Apparatus and method for vending and accepting return of re-usable articles
First Claim
1. Vending apparatus comprising,a vending unit containing articles to be vended, the articles having predetermined individual values,means for receiving ID information from a patron,record means,means responsive to entering the ID information, and to manipulation by the patron, for vending an article and recording such vending on the record means,means responsive to return of the article vended for recording such return on the record means,a computer unit having means for receiving control information and putting out instructional information and control signals,means for entering information in the computer unit representing a predetermined security deposit value corresponding to a predetermined number of aritcles, andmeans controlled by the computer unit for enabling vending to each patron of only articles having a total value within said security deposit value.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vending unit includes a plurality of cubicles each holding a TV film, dispensed in response to the manipulation by an identified patron. The patron has an identification code number, which upon being entered as information into the vending unit, energizes a computer unit and conditions the apparatus for vending. This information may be entered by pushbuttons or using an ID card. A monetary coin or money bill, or token, is inserted and then a film is dispensed in response to depression of a selection button by the patron. The apparatus includes a record of transactions by each patron, according to his ID code number, which shows films taken out, and their return, and a security deposit credit, and sets off the dispensed films against that deposit credit, and re-establishes the deposit credit upon return of the film. Upon entering the ID information, instructions are given to the patron by the computer, visually or audibly, for successive steps to be taken following each previous step. An alternative arrangement utilizes a billing operation instead of a coin or token. The invention also encompasses an arrangement including a central station and a plurality of substations. Another alternative includes an ID card, known as a "smart card," that includes a complete built-in computer that performs all the functions of the computer unit in the first forms.
-
Citations
27 Claims
-
1. Vending apparatus comprising,
a vending unit containing articles to be vended, the articles having predetermined individual values, means for receiving ID information from a patron, record means, means responsive to entering the ID information, and to manipulation by the patron, for vending an article and recording such vending on the record means, means responsive to return of the article vended for recording such return on the record means, a computer unit having means for receiving control information and putting out instructional information and control signals, means for entering information in the computer unit representing a predetermined security deposit value corresponding to a predetermined number of aritcles, and means controlled by the computer unit for enabling vending to each patron of only articles having a total value within said security deposit value.
-
4. Vending apparatus comprising
a vending unit containing articles to be vended, means for receiving ID information from a patron, record means, means responsive to entering the ID information, and to manipulation by the patron, for vending an article and recording such vending on the record means, means responsive to return of the article vended for recording such return on the record means, a computer unit having means for receiving control information and putting out instructions and control signals, means responsive to manipulation by the patron for presenting instructions for subsequent steps in vending operations, means for indicating status of security deposit, the instructions including such instructions for the patron to indicate the subsequent step in the vending operation, the computer unit including selecting elements relating individually to subsequent steps, one of which is selecting information as to status of the security deposit, means responisve to insertion of value pieces for energizing the apparatus and enabling operation of the other means mentioned, and means for receiving additional value pieces and indicating such receipt in the status of the security deposit.
-
5. Vending apparatus comprising,
a vending unit containing articles to be vended, means for receiving ID information from a patron, record means, means responsive to entering the ID information, and to manipulation by the patron, for vending an article and recording such vending on the record means, means responsive to return of the article vended for recording such return on the record means, and the apparatus including means forming identifying elements for establishing ID code numbers for patrons, and being capable of being energized in response to entering information representing each code number, and in response to entering that information being operable for actuation of the apparatus.
-
9. Vending apparatus comprising,
a vending unit containing articles to be vended, the articles being individually distinct and the vending unit having a space corresponding to each article, means for receiving ID information from a patron, record means for keeping a record for each individual patron, including a rental account and a security account, means responsive to entering ID information, and to manipulation by the patron, for vending an article and recording such vending in the rental account in the record means, means responsive to return of the article vended for recorded such return in the rental account in the record means, the vending and returning means being operable for vending a predetermined selected article and returning the same article to its corresponding said space for re-vending, means for receiving value pieces and for recording them in the security account, and so recording them independently of the vending or returning of articles, whereby to enable a patron to maintain an account independently of the vending or returning of articles.
-
12. Vending apparatus comprising,
a vending unit containing individually indentified articles to be vended, record means, means for receiving ID information of individual patrons and entering it in the record means, means for entering a credit for individual patrons in the record means, means responsive to actuation by a patron for vending a selected article, independently of the insertion of any value pieces thereinto, and means for entering in the record means, against the credit account of the respective patron, the charge for the article vended.
-
14. Vending apparatus comprising,
a vending unit containing articles to be vended, and having cubicles, each for accomodating an individual articles, means for confining each article in the cubicle, means for receiving ID information from parton, record means, means responsive to entering the ID information, and to manipulation by the patron, for vending an article and recording such vending on the record means, a computer unit having means for receiving control information and putting out instructions and control signals, means responsive to manipulation by the patron for presenting instructions for subsequent steps in vending operations, the instructions including such instructions as to selection of predetermined articles, the computer unit including selecting elements relating individually to the articles, and effective upon manipulation thereof for vending corresponding articles, and the selecting elements being operable for releasing the articles for enabling the patron to grasp then and withdraw them.
-
21. A method of vending reusable articles to a patron in the absence of immediate attention by a vendor, comprising,
providing a container holding the articles, vending an articles to a patron in response to his selection and manipulation, later accepting the same article into the container from the patron, establishing a record of the patrons identity, and including a security account, and making an entry in the patron'"'"'s security account of articles vended, automatically in response to the vending of the aritcles, and later making an entry in the patron'"'"'s security account of articles accepted, automatically in response to the acceptance of the articles.
-
23. Vending apparatus comprising,
a stationary magazine including a plurality of cubicles having individual identification, the magazine being adapted to receiving in the cubicles thereof articles to be vended, in position wherein they are all observable and identifiable by a patron in a single position, a common receptacle for receiving articles from any and all of the cubicles accessible to the patron, means for receiving informational data from a patron, and article handling means responsive to entering data by a patron, identifying a patricular cubicle, operable for withdrawing the article from the identified cubicle and placing it in the receptacle, said article handling means being responsive solely to said data entered by the patron to the exclusion of any control relationship with the magazine.
-
26. Vending apparatus comprising,
a magazine including a plurality of cubicles having individual identification, the magazine being adapted to positioning in the cubicles thereof of articles to be vended, a common receptacle for receiving articles from any and all of the cubicles, accessible to a patron, means for reciving informational data from a patron, and atricle handling means responsive to entering data by a patron identifying a patricular cubicle, and following the conclusion of entering such data in an initial step and in the absence of entering additional data, operable for withdrawing the articles from the identified cubicle and placing it in the receptacle, the article handling means being operable also, responsive to entering data by a patron, for picking up an article from the receptacle and returning it to the previously identified cubicle.
Specification