Automated film processing kiosk system

• US 20050047777A1
• Filed: 09/02/2003
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bernhard P. Molldrem Jr
• Original Assignee: Bernhard P. Molldrem Jr
• Inventors: Molldrem, Bernhard P. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 6,985,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/564
• CPC Class Codes: G03D 13/00 Processing apparatus or accessories therefor, not covered by groups G11B3/00 - G11B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

Automated film processing kiosk automatically receives and processes a customer film unit, e.g., a film cartridge or OTUC, and the finished prints can be picked up when processing is completed. The interior is climate controlled. The customer swipes a credit or debit card through a card reader, and inserts the exposed film unit into the kiosk. Inside the enclosure a mini-lab processor automatically processes the film, using either a wet or dry process, and extracts images from the film, either negatives, or else as digital images. A digital printer (i.e., color ink-jet printer) produces photographic prints of the customer'"'"'s images and a print packaging unit packages and labels the photographic prints for each customer film unit, and an optional optical disk with digital images. A storage carousel within enclosure has chambers for storing the packaged prints for the customers. At pick-up, the customer swipes a card through for identification. A carousel unload mechanism transfers the customer'"'"'s finished prints from the carousel to a delivery bin. A communications module communicates order status, inventory, and equipment status to a central monitoring station. Print correction for color, density, and contrast can be carried out remotely.

Claims

1. An automated film processing kiosk at which a customer can deposit a photographic film unit exposed with images and can later pick up processed photographic prints of said images by presenting an identification and form of payment;

said kiosk comprising an enclosure having a film drop-off portion at which the customer inserts said film unit for automated processing and a prints pick-up portion at which the finished prints can be picked up when processing thereof is completed;

said enclosure defining an interior;

said drop-off portion including drop-off customer identification entry means and film-unit accepting means permitting the customer to insert said exposed film unit;

mini-lab processing means within the interior of said enclosure for automatically processing said film unit and extracting images from said film unit;

printing means within the interior of said enclosure for producing photographic prints of the customer'"'"'s images based on the images extracted from the customer'"'"'s film unit;

print packaging means within the interior of said enclosure for packaging and labeling the photographic prints for each said customer film unit;

storage carousel means within said enclosure and having a plurality of storage chambers for storing the packaged prints for the customer until picked up;

said prints pick-up portion of said kiosk enclosure having a pick-up customer identification entry means and a delivery bin for presenting the packaged finished prints to the customer;

the kiosk also comprising a carousel unload mechanism for identifying the chamber of the storage carousel means which holds the customer'"'"'s packaged finished prints and for transfering said packaged finished prints from such chamber to the delivery bin; and

computer control means linking said drop-off customer identification means, said pick-up customer identification means, said mini-lab processing means, said printing means, said storage carousel means; and

said carousel unload mechanism.

2. Automated film processing kiosk according to according to claim 1 wherein said printer means includes a bar code labeler for printing a customer-specific bar code, and said unload mechanism includes a bar code scanner for identifying the packaged prints of a customer among the chambers of said storage carousel means.

3. Automated film processing kiosk according to claim 1 wherein said storage carousel means includes a rotary arrangement of said chambers that rotate controllably in a space within said enclosure adjacent both said printer means and said delivery bin.

4. Automated film processing kiosk according to claim 1 further comprising climate control means for controlling heat and humidity conditions within said enclosure.

5. Automated film processing kiosk according to claim 1 wherein said drop-off customer identification entry means and said pick-up customer identification entry means respectively include a customer credit/debit card reader means.

6. Automated film processing kiosk according to claim 5 comprising a communications module within said enclosure and having communication channels connected with said customer drop-off and pick-up credit/debit card reader means for permitting automated communication with a credit/debit card issuer to establish the identity of a customer and to communicate customer payment information.

7. Automated film processing kiosk according to claim 6 wherein said mini-lab processing means is coupled to said communications module to transmit operability status of the processing means.

8. Automated film processing kiosk according to claim 7 further comprising climate control means for controlling heat and humidity conditions within said enclosure, and wherein said climate control means is coupled to said communications module to transmit operability status of the climate control means.

9. Automated film processing kiosk according to claim 1 wherein said printer means further includes a digital print maker, and a CD recorder for making a non-volitile digital recording of the images extracted from a respective customer film unit, and said packaging means includes means for packaging the non-volitile recording with the associated finished prints.

10. Automated film processing kiosk according to claim 9 wherein said film-unit accepting means includes queuing means for holding a number of film units so that they may be processed in turn.

11. A multiple film/camera automated sales and automated film processing kiosk system comprising

a central monitoring station;

at least one film/camera vending kiosk, said vending kiosk containing a supply of one-time use cameras;

means for accepting a customer non-cash payment;

means for delivering a selected one-time use camera from said supply to the customer;

climate control means for maintaining the supply of said one-time use cameras within prescribed range of temperatures; and

a communications module for communicating status of said supply of one-time use cameras and said climate control means with said central monitoring station;

at least one automated film processing kiosk at which the customer can deposit a one-time use camera exposed with images and can later pick up processed photographic prints of said images by presenting an identification and form of payment;

said kiosk comprising an enclosure having a film drop-off portion at which the customer inserts said one-time use camera for automated processing and a prints pick-up portion at which the prints can be picked up when processing thereof is finished;

said enclosure defining an interior;

said drop-off portion including drop-off customer identification entry and payment means and film-unit accepting means permitting the customer to insert said exposed one-time use camera;

an one-time-use-camera opener for extracting exposed photographic film from said camera;

mini-lab processing means within the interior of said enclosure for automatically processing said exposed photographic film and extracting images therefrom;

printing means within the interior of said enclosure for producing photographic prints of the customer'"'"'s images based on the images extracted from the customer'"'"'s exposed film;

print packaging means within the interior of said enclosure for packaging and labeling the photographic prints for each said customer'"'"'s photographic film;

storage carousel means within said enclosure and having a plurality of storage chambers for storing the packaged prints for the customer until picked up;

said prints pick-up portion of said kiosk enclosure having a pick-up customer identification entry means and a delivery bin for presenting the packaged finished prints to the customer;

the kiosk also comprising a carousel unload mechanism for identifying the chamber of the carousel means which holds the customer'"'"'s packaged finished prints and for transfering said packaged finished prints from such chamber to the delivery bin; and

computer control means linking said drop-off customer identification means, said pick-up customer identification means, said mini-lab processing means, said printing means, said storage carousel means, and said carousel unload mechanism;

climate control means for controlling heat and humidity conditions within said enclosure; and

a communications module within said enclosure and having communication channels connected with said drop-off and pick-up customer identification means, to establish the identity of a customer and to communicate customer payment information, and communicating the status of said climate control means and said mini-lab film processing means; and

a communications network permitting communication between the communications modules of said vending kiosks, said film processing kiosks, and said central monitoring station.

12. Multiple kiosk system according to claim 11 wherein said monitoring station includes a print adjustment station having a display at which images from a customer'"'"'s exposed film at one of said at least one film processing kiosk can be viewed, and print control adjustment means for permitting adjustments of contrast, density, and color balance of the customer print;

and communicating said adjustments over said network to said at least one kiosk so that the printing means thereof creates corrected prints of the images from the customer'"'"'s exposed film.

13. Multiple kiosk system according to claim 12 wherein the computer control means includes means for detecting conditions in the images from the exposed film of the customer that are indicative of poor image quality, and automatically communicating the existence of such poor image quality to said print adjustment station of the central monitoring station.

14. Multiple kiosk system according to claim 11 wherein said network includes means for communicating wirelessly with each of said kiosks.

15. Multiple kiosk system according to claim 11 wherein said network means includes a broadband communications channel connecting to each of said film processing kiosks.

16. Multiple kiosk system according to claim 11 wherein said drop-off customer identification entry means and said pick-up customer identification entry means respectively include a customer credit/debit card reader means.

17. Network based multiple automated film processing kiosk system permitting customers to obtain prints from exposed photographic film from any of a plurality of unattended kiosks within a geographic area, and to employ a debit or credit card as a means for payment for processing and printing of images of the film, and also as means for identification of the customer when the customer picks up finished prints;

comprising

a central monitoring station;

a plurality of automated film processing kiosks, at which the customer can deposit a photographic film unit exposed with images and can later pick up processed photographic prints of said images by presenting an identification and form of payment;

each said kiosk comprising an enclosure having a film drop-off portion at which the customer inserts said film unit for automated processing and a prints pick-up portion at which the prints can be picked up when processing thereof is finished;

said enclosure defining an interior;

said drop-off portion including drop-off customer identification entry means, including drop-off customer credit-debit card reader and film-unit accepting means permitting the customer to insert said film unit containing exposed photgraphic film containing the customer'"'"'s photographic images;

mini-lab processing means within the interior of said enclosure for automatically processing said exposed photographic film and extracting the images therefrom;

printing means within the interior of said enclosure for producing photographic prints of the customer'"'"'s images based on the images extracted from the customer'"'"'s exposed film;

print packaging means within the interior of said enclosure for packaging and labeling the photographic prints for each said customer'"'"'s photographic film;

storage carousel means within said enclosure and having a plurality of storage chambers for storing the packaged prints for the customer until picked up;

said prints pick-up portion of said kiosk enclosure having a pick-up customer identification entry means, including pick-up customer credit/debit card reader and a delivery bin for presenting the packaged finished prints to the customer;

the kiosk also comprising a carousel unload mechanism for identifying the chamber of the carousel means which holds the customer'"'"'s packaged finished prints and for transfering said packaged finished prints from such chamber to the delivery bin; and

computer control means linking said drop-off customer identification means, said pick-up customer identification means, said mini-lab processing means, said printing means, said storage carousel means; and

said carousel unload mechanism;

climate control means for controlling heat and humidity conditions within said enclosure; and

a communications module within said enclosure and having communication channels connected with said customer drop-off and pick-up credit/debit card reader means for permitting automated communication with a credit/debit card issuer to establish the identity of a customer and to communicate customer payment information, and communicating the status of said climate control means and said minilab film processing means; and

a network permitting communication between the communications modules of said film processing kiosks and said central monitoring station.

18. Multiple kiosk system according to claim 17 wherein said monitoring station includes a print adjustment station having a display at which images from a customer'"'"'s exposed film at one of said film processing kiosks can be viewed, and print control adjustment means for permitting adjustments of contrast, density, and color balance of the customer print;

and communicating said adjustments over said network to said at least one kiosk so that the printing means thereof creates corrected prints of the images from the customer'"'"'s exposed film.

19. Multiple kiosk system according to claim 18 wherein the computer control means includes means for detecting conditions in the images from the exposed film of the customer that are indicative of poor image quality, and automatically communicating the existence of such poor image quality to said print adjustment station of the central monitoring station.

20. Multiple kiosk system according to claim 17 wherein said network includes means for communicating wirelessly between said central monitoring station and said kiosks.

21. Multiple kiosk system according to claim 17 wherein said network means includes a broadband communications channel connecting said central monitoring station to said film processing kiosks.