AUTOMATED BUSINESS SYSTEM AND METHOD OF VENDING AND RETURNING A CONSUMER PRODUCT

• US 20090143906A1
• Filed: 12/04/2008
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Blust, Donald, Driscoll, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,036,774 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/241
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/305 for record players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines

Abstract

System and method of dispensing disc-based media and other consumer products. A user can interact with an automated business system to select disc-based media for rental and/or purchase. The automated business system can retrieve the selection from the interior of the automated business system and dispense the selection through a port to the user. The automated business system can retrieve the selection from the port in a return process.

Claims

1. An automated business system comprising:

a housing;

a user station supported by the housing;

a retrieval system operable to retrieve disc-based media stored in the-housing;

a RFID reader operable to read a RFID tag on the disc-based media; and

a port to dispense the disc-based media.

2. The automated business system of claim 1 further comprising a server supported by the housing, the server operable to communicate with the user station to display search options on the user station.

3. The automated business system of claim 1 further comprising a server supported by the housing, the server operable to communicate with the retrieval system to retrieve the disc-based media selected by a user of at the user station.

4. The automated business system of claim 1 further comprising a server supported by the housing, the server operable to communicate with a remote computer terminal operable to service the server and the retrieval system.

5. The automated business system of claim 1 further comprising a server supported by the housing, the server operable to communicate with a remote computer terminal via the Internet.

6. The automated business system of claim 1 further comprising a tracking and identification system operable to identify the location of each disc-based media and the status of each disc-based media.

7. The automated business system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of user stations.

8. A system for retrieving disc-based media, the system comprising:

a plurality of guide rails supported by a frame;

a track supported by the guide rails;

a gripper assembly supported by the track, the carriage including

a gripper, and

a RPID device; and

a controller operable to transmit instructions to the carriage to retrieve a selected disc-based media.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the plurality of guide rails is laterally spaced apart and coupled together by a link shaft, each pair of guide rails including a sprocket and a conveyor member, the link shaft coupled to a motor and operable to drive the sprockets at a common rotation.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the plurality of guide rails each include a carriage adapted to support the track and operable to move the track in a generally vertical direction.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the track includes a motor and a sensor operable to provide information to the motor related to the. location of the gripper assembly.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the gripper includes a plurality of fingers operable to move from a first position to a second position to engage the disc-based media.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the gripper assembly further comprises a rotate device.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the rotate device includes a motor operable to rotate the gripper.

15. A system for retrieving disc-based media, the system comprising:

a guide rail oriented along a first axis;

a track oriented along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis;

a gripper supported by the track, the gripper operable to move along the track, the gripper operable to telescope along a third axis perpendicular to the second axis; and

a plurality of fingers coupled to the gripper, the fingers operable to engage the disc-based media.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising a controller operable to transmit instructions to the gripper to retrieve a selected disc-based media.

17. The system of claim 15 further comprising an extend/retract device supported by the track, the gripper operable to telescope along the extend/retract device to engage the disc-based media.

18. A system for retrieving disc-based media, the system comprising:

a plurality of guide rails having a length oriented along a vertical axis; and

a linear positioning table supported by the plurality of guide rails, the linear positioning table having a length oriented along a horizontal axis, the linear positioning table adapted to support a carriage operable to move horizontally along about 90 percent of the linear positioning table.