Automatic dispenser, particularly for audio/video products

• US 5,219,094 A
• Filed: 11/19/1991
• Issued: 06/15/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ASET Apparecchiature Strumenti Elettromeccanici Torino SPA
• Original Assignee: ASET Apparecchiature Strumenti Elettromeccanici Torino SPA
• Inventors: Labriola, Manlio
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, Robert P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REICHARD, DEAN ALAN
• Application Number:
  US07/795,202
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 221/13, 221/76, 221/89, 221/119, 221/120, 221/121, 221/122, 221/130, 221/132, 194/906, 414/280, 360/92, 312/305
• US Class Current: 221/76
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/16 Lining or labelling
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/262 Clamping means for the sheets, e.g. clamping frames
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/38 Opening, closing or clamping means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/52 about horizontal axes

Abstract

An automatic dispenser for the sale/exchange of video cassettes/compact ds and similar. The products are housed on a rotary drum inside respective peripheral radial compartments arranged side by side in two concentric rings of the same diameter and occupying the same radial position. Drive means controlled by electronic control means provide for selectively rotating the drum by a given number of fractions of a turn equal to half the circumference of each compartment, so as to selectively position the compartments facing two withdrawal slots formed through a panel on the dispenser parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum, which slots are offset heightwise by an amount substantially equal to half the circumference of the compartments.

Claims

1. An automatic dispenser, particularly for audio/video products such as video cassettes and/or compact discs, comprising a rotary storage drum on which said products are housed inside respective peripheral radial compartments, characterised by the fact that said compartments are arranged in two concentric rings of the same diameter, the compartments of one ring being arranged beside and in the same radial position as those of the other ring;

said dispenser also comprising drive means, controlled by electronic means, for selectively rotating said drum by a predetermined number of fractions of a turn equal to half the circumference of each said compartment, so that said compartments selectively face two withdrawal slots, one for each said ring of compartments, formed through a panel on the dispenser parallel to the axis of rotation of said drum;

said slots being offset heightwise by an amount substantially equal to half the circumference of said compartments.

2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that said compartments are provided inside with means for retaining said products.

3. A dispenser as claimed in claim 2, characterised by the fact that said retaining means consist of elastic gripping elements between and from which said products are inserted and released when inserted and extracted from said compartments.

4. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1,

characterised by the fact that at least one said compartment on said drum is left empty;

said dispenser also comprising sensor means for reading respective identification labels on said products, and connected to said electronic control means;

said electronic control means being designed, subsequent to a user request entered via a keyboard on said panel, to position said empty compartment facing one of said slots, to identify a product inserted by the user inside said empty compartment, and, subsequent to positive identification of said product, to enable the user to withdraw another said product from another said compartment in exchange for said product inserted inside said empty compartment.

5. A dispenser as claimed in claim 4, characterised by the fact that said electronic control means consist of an electronic computer housed, together with said drum and said drive means, inside a housing of which said panel with said withdrawal slots forms part;

said computer comprising a display screen on said panel, for displaying, subsequent to a user request via said keyboard, information concerning the products stored on said drum, and for enabling interactive communication with the user for selecting the product for withdrawal.

6. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1,

characterised by the fact that it comprises a cover at least for said slots;

payment receiving means controlled by said electronic control means, which only activate said drum subsequent to payment by the user of the required sum via said receiving means; and

means whereby the user supplies said electronic control means with an identification code number for removing said cover.