Automatic Machine For The Renting And Sale Of Durable Goods And/Or Food Products

• US 20080073373A1
• Filed: 03/24/2006
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nuova Vde International S.r.l.
• Original Assignee: Nuova Vde International S.r.l.
• Inventors: Vicentin, Giovanni
• Application Number:
  US11/887,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20080073373A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/210
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/165 using xyz-picker or multi-dimensional article picking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/069 by box-like containers, e.g. videocassettes, books

Abstract

An automatic machine for the rent and sale of durable goods such as for example VHS videotapes, DVDs, audiotapes, CDs, etc., and/or other food products, such as cigarettes, sweet and savoury snacks, drinks, etc., comprising at least two openings or apertures for product insertion/dispensing (14, 15) of which one opening can be used for rental products, and the other for sold products, and means adapted to block the container or tray (6) on which the product is placed, during the purchasing step of a product; the machine also includes an electromechanical system, adapted to prevent the user, during the retrieval step of the requested product, from accessing the supply stock (4) of the machine, illegally removing the products contained therein.

Claims

1. Automatic machine for the rent and sale of durable goods and/or food products, of the type comprising a terminal or control panel (10) to be used to select and/or purchase at least one product by a user, at least one supply stock (4) where the products for rent and for sale are contained, and at least one specifically shaped gripper (5), adapted to retrieve, transport and release of the product, characterised in that said machine provides for means adapted to block, at least one support element (6) on which said product is positioned, during the product purchase and/or rental step.

2. Automatic machine according to claim 1 characterised in that said machine further comprises an electromechanical system adapted to prevent the user from possible access into said supply stock (4) during the retrieval step of the requested product, illegally removing the products contained therein.

3. Automatic machine according to claim 1 characterised in that said terminal (10) provides means for payment (11, 12) of the selected products, and at least one screen (13) for choosing and purchasing one or more desired products.

4. Automatic machine according to claim 1 characterised in that said supply stock (4) consists of an alveolar structure and is made up of a plurality of compartments (16) of various sizes, according to the size of the product each compartment must contain.

5. Automatic machine according to claim 1 characterised in that said terminal (10) presents at least two openings or apertures (14, 15) for the introduction and/or dispensing of the rented and/or sold products, wherein at least one first opening (15) can be used for rental products, and at least a second opening (14) can be used for products on sale.

6. Automatic machine according to claim 1 characterised in that said specifically shaped gripper (5) travels in a horizontal direction along a slide (17), which in turn, travels vertically through the total supply stock (4) in order to retrieve and present the products for rent and/or for sale, at said openings (14, 15), said specifically shaped gripper (5) being also apt to adapt its own dimensions in length and width according to the product and/or said support element (6) by means of an electromechanically controlled system.

7. Automatic machine according to claim 4 characterised in that the products destined for rent, such as VHS videotapes, audiotapes, CDs, DVDs, etc., are each positioned directly inside a pre-established compartment (16), while the products for sale, such as food products such as snacks, drinks, ice-creams cigarettes, etc., are positioned on said support element (6) which is previously inserted inside each compartment (16) of the supply stock (4).

8. Automatic machine according to claim 1 characterised in that it presents at least one opening (14) for the dispensing of rental and/or sales products, equipped with at least one external hatch (1) that communicates with the exterior, permitting the user to retrieve the selected product, and at least one connecting tunnel (2) that connects said external hatch (1) with at least one internal hatch (3), said external hatch (1) and internal hatch (3) being normally closed when not operating.

9. Automatic machine according to claim 8 characterised in that during the rental or sales step, said external hatch (1) remains closed, while said internal hatch (3) is opened to permit the insertion of said support element (6) on which the selected product is placed, which is inserted into said connecting tunnel (2).

10. Automatic machine according to claim 9 characterised in that once said support element (6) of the selected product has reached an established position inside said connection tunnel (2), said internal hatch (3) is closed and is fitted in at least one specifically shaped seat of said support element (6), so that the hatch is fixedly engaged with said support element (6) thus preventing the extraction of the support element from the exterior, said external hatch (1) thus being unblocked and being openable by the user to retrieve only the selected product, and once the selected product has been removed by the user, said external hatch (1) being adapted to close again and then said internal hatch (3) to open.