Vending system for remotely accessible stored information

• US 3,947,882 A
• Filed: 11/29/1972
• Issued: 03/30/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert W. Lightner
• Original Assignee: Robert W. Lightner
• Inventors: Lightner, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tupper, Robert S.
• Application Number:
  US05/310,565
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 179/100.2 MD, 179/100.2 Z, 360/92, 360/15, 360/69, 360/132
• US Class Current: 360/92.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/305 for record players
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/68 Automatic cassette changing arrangements; automatic tape changing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/86 Re-recording, i.e. transcribing information from one magnetisable record carrier on to one or more similar or dissimilar record carriers by varying the order of the information G11B27/029, G11B27/036
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/1739 the upstream communication being transmitted via a separate link, e.g. telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 194/906 Video cassette vendor

Abstract

A vending system includes a central station at which various information stored on master recordings can be selectively accessed by purchasers from any of multiple remote vending machines, the accessed information being reproduced on cartridge-type storage media at that vending machine. The cartridge, upon receiving all of the selected information, is ejected from the vending machine for the permanent use of the purchaser. In a preferred embodiment the master recording medium comprises a plurality of rack-mounted endless master tapes continuously driven by a common capstan. The endless tapes are contained in a cartridge which includes a tape transport and playback head and is readily removable from the rack. The vending machine includes a storage magazine in which blank tapes receive recorded information and are then automatically ejected.

Claims

1. A central information distribution facility of the type in which information stored on plural individual endless tapes is selectively retrievable, said facility comprising:

a multiple cavity rack, each cavity adapted to receive a tape cartridge;

plural electrical connectors secured to said rack at each cavity location;

a drive capstan having a longitudinal axis lengthwise through all of said multiple cavities;

means for continuously rotating said drive capstan about its longitudinal axis;

multiple tape cartridges each comprising;

a housing arranged to fit in and be received by any of said multiple cavities, said housing comprising first and second spaced walls defining an interior region therebetween, said interior region having a thickness which is slightly larger than the width of said endless tapes, said housing being arranged to be received in a cavity with the housing thickness extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said drive capstan;

a relatively large tape storage bin defined within said interior region;

a relatively small transient tape bin defined within said interior region;

an ingress opening and an egress opening for said transient tape bin;

an ingress opening and an egress opening for said tape storage bin, said ingress opening for said tape storage bin being the same opening as the egress opening for said transient tape bin;

a guide channel defined about a portion of the peripheries of said tape storage bin and said transient tape bin and extending from the egress opening of said tape storage bin to the ingress opening of said transient tape bin;

an endless tape having its major portion disposed in multiple folds within said tape storage bin and extending therefrom through the tape storage bin egress opening, along said guide channel, through the ingress opening for said transient tape bin, along a predetermined path through said transient tape bin and back into said tape storage bin through the ingress opening therefor, said tape being disposed with its width extending in the direction of the thickness of said housing;

a recessed portion of said housing arranged to receive said drive capstan adjacent said predetermined path when said housing is received by a cavity;

wherein said predetermined path in said transient tape bin comprises a playback head, a plurality of tape guide means for maintaining said endless tape taut as it passes said playback head, and pinch roller means urged toward said predetermined path to co-operatively and continuously engage said endless tape in driving relationship with said drive capstan; and

connector means electrically connected to said playback head and arranged to mate with said plural electrical connectors at the cavity in which said housing is received.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein each of said endless tapes has a plurality of information segments recorded thereon and spaced from one another along the length of said endless tape, the tape spaces between information segments having control signals recorded therein.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the information recorded on at least some of said endless tapes is a single information record, recorded repetitively, there being control signals recorded at the start and termination of each repetitive portion of the record.

4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said cartridges are devoid of record and erase heads.

5. The combination according to claim 1 wherein each of said tapes has multiple information tracks extending parallel to one another along its length, each track having a plurality of spaced information segments recorded thereon and spaced from one another by information gaps in which control signals are recorded, the gaps in each track being co-extensive.