Vending machine having plural compartments which are independently selected and controlled

• US 4,893,705 A
• Filed: 08/01/1988
• Issued: 01/16/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: New View Techno-Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leonard C. Brown
• Inventors: Brown, Leonard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rolla, Joseph J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/206,225
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 221/4, 221/5, 221/6, 221/12, 221/69, 221/92, 221/134, 221/154, 221/155, 221/306, 194/205, 194/208, 194/210, 194/211, 194/212, 194/213, 194/214, 194/350, 235/381, 235/383, 235/385, 312/35, 312/215, 364/479, 340/545, 340/568, 340/570, 340/825.35
• US Class Current: 194/211
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 194/906 Video cassette vendor

Abstract

An electronically controlled dispensing machine for articles such as video cassettes has a plurality of individual lockable compartments. The compartments have transparent doors through which the articles can be identified. A customer presents a coded data storage token with a credit amount stored on it to the machine, and selects and removes one of more articles. The machine reduces the credit amount on the token accordingly. The articles can be returned to a vacant compartment in due course, and if the article is returned late, a further amount is deducted from the credit amount on the token. Sensors in each compartment ensure that the cassettes are inserted correctly by sensing an electrically conductive portion of the cassettes.

Claims

1. Apparatus for dispensing video cassettes and other articles, comprising:

a cabinet having a plurality of compartments for storing and dispensing video cassettes and other articles, said cabinet arranged so that all of said plurality of compartments may be simultaneously viewed by a customer;

each compartment having an individual, visually transparent and lockable door panel;

first sensing means with each compartment for detecting the presence of an electrically conductive portion of a video cassette or other article which has been correctly inserted therein;

means with each compartment for independently controlling the opening of the corresponding compartment door panel;

second sensing means with each compartment for detecting when the corresponding compartment door panel is open;

compartment selection means operable by a customer for providing an electronic indication representative of a selected compartment;

means for providing an electronic indication representative of the receipt of a customer payment token for the video cassette or other article located in the selected compartment and for verifying the customer payment token;

means for retaining said customer payment token until the customer has properly closed the door panel to the selected compartment following removal of the video cassette or other article; and

electronic circuit means for receiving inputs from said first and second sensing means, said compartment selection means and said customer payment indication means and for selectively operating said compartment door panel opening means for the selected compartment to open only that door panel and permit access by the customer only to the selected compartment, but only if a video cassette or other article having a correct electronically conductive portion is located therein as determined by said first sensing means and only if the door panel for said selected compartment is previously closed as determined by said second sensing means.

2. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said second sensing means comprises a microswitch.

3. The apparatus recited in claim 2 wherein said first sensing means comprises an electronic sensor along an inside wall of each compartment.

4. The apparatus recited in claim 3 further comprising means responsive to a customer return input for opening an empty compartment as determined by said first sensing means, to permit the customer to return a video cassette or other article to the opened compartment.

5. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein each compartment door panel is hinged along one side thereof, and wherein said door panel opening means comprises a solenoidoperated release mechanism located along a second side of said door panel opposite said one side.

6. Apparatus for dispensing video cassettes and other articles, comprising:

a cabinet having a plurality of compartments for storing and dispensing video cassettes and other articles, said compartments arranged in said cabinet in rows and columns so that the video cassettes or other articles in all of said compartments may be perused simultaneously by a customer located in front of said cabinet;

each compartment having a separate visually transparent, outwardly-facing and lockable door panel along the front of said cabinet;

an electronic sensor located along an inside wall of each compartment for detecting the presence of a video cassette or other article which has been correctly inserted therein;

a solenoid located within each compartment for opening the corresponding door panel to permit access to the corresponding compartment responsive to an electrical input;

a microswitch with each compartment for detecting when the corresponding door panel is opened;

a keypad along the front face of said cabinet for receiving a customer input representative of a predetermined compartment selected by the customer, and for providing an electrical indication representative thereof;

an aperture along the front face of said cabinet and a related payment circuit associated with said aperture for receiving a customer payment token for the video cassette or other article located in said selected compartment and providing an electronic indication representative of payment;

an electronic signal processing circuit in said cabinet for receiving and processing inputs from said electronic sensor, said microswitch, said keypad and said payment circuit for selectively operating said compartment door panel solenoid for said selected compartment to only open that door panel and permit access by the customer only to said selected compartment, but only if a video cassette or other article is properly located therein as determined by said electronic sensor, and only if the door panel of said selected compartment is previously closed as determined by said microswitch; and

means for retaining said customer payment token in said aperture after removal of the video cassette or other article from said selected compartment until the customer has properly closed the open door panel for said selected compartment, as determined by the microswitch at said selected compartment.

7. The apparatus recited in claim 6 further comprising means responsive to a customer return input for opening an empty compartment as determined by said electronic sensor to permit the customer to return a video cassette or other article to the opened compartment.

8. The apparatus recited in claim 7 further comprising circuit means for receiving said customer return input only upon receipt of said customer payment token into said aperture.