Automatic commodity handling apparatus utilizing IC card

• US 6,109,524 A
• Filed: 05/22/1998
• Issued: 08/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nippon TMI Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nippon TMI Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Itoh, Masanori, Komatsu, Futaba, Kanoh, Chiyuki, Takayama, Tsuguhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US09/043,820
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/381, 235/380, 705/41
• US Class Current: 235/381
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/355 Personalisation of cards for use
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/00 Coin-freed apparatus with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0042 for hiring of objects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0873 Details of the card reader
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A store system has a card issue/money deposit machine (8) and a commercial-article handling machine (3) capable of vending and the like of commercial articles with utilization of the IC card (13). The card issue/money deposit machine (8) has a card issue means (8a) for issuing the IC card (13) based on input information of the customer, and a money processing means (8b) for recording input money in the IC card (13) as a deposit. The commercial-article handling machine (3) has an input means (3a) for inputting the kind and number and the like of commercial articles, IC card reader/writer (3b), a commercial-article handling means (3c) for conducting vending of commercial articles and the like based on the input information of commercial articles and the recorded information of the IC card, and a calculation means (3d) for subtracting the amount of deposit recorded in the IC card according to commercial articles to be handled. By making use of the IC card having a memory capacity larger thank the magnetic card, automatic vending, renting and other operations of various commercial articles can be carried out.

Claims

1. An automatic commercial-article handling system utilizing an IC card, comprising:

a card issue machine for issuing the IC card as a customer card, and a commercial-article handling machine for selling or renting of commercial articles by making use of the issued IC card, wherein

the card issue machine has a card issue means for issuing the IC card based on input information by the customer, and a money handling means for recording the amount of money deposited by the customer as the amount of deposit in the IC card, wherein

the commercial-article handling machine has an input means for inputting the kind and number of commercial articles, an IC card reader/writer, a commercial-article handling means for conducting selling, renting or returning operation of commercial articles based on commercial-article information input via the input means and on recorded information of the IC card, and a calculation means for processing subtraction operation of the deposit amount recorded in the IC card in accordance with the commercial article to be handled, and

means for crediting the deposit amount with a premium in accordance with recorded contents in the IC card including the deposit amount and purchase record of commercial articles.

2. An automatic commercial-article handling system utilizing an IC card, comprising:

a card issue machine for issuing the IC card as a customer card, and a commercial-article handling machine for selling or renting of commercial articles by making use of the issued IC card, wherein

the card issue machine has a card issue means for issuing the IC card based on input information by the customer, and a money handling means for recording the amount of money deposited by the customer as the amount of deposit in the IC card, wherein

the commercial-article handling machine has an input means for inputting the kind and number of commercial articles, an IC card reader/writer, a commercial-article handling means for conducting selling, renting or returning operation of commercial articles based on commercial-article information input via the input means and on recorded information of the IC card, and a calculation means for processing subtraction operation of the deposit amount recorded in the IC card in accordance with the commercial article to be handled, and

means for repaying the balance of deposit recorded in the IC card upon returning of the IC card.

3. An automatic renting system for recorded media utilizing an IC card, comprising:

a card issue machine for issuing the IC card as a customer card, and a renting machine for automatically renting recorded media such as videocassette tapes by making use of the issued IC card, wherein

the card issue machine issues the IC card based on information input by the customer and the amount of input money, and wherein

the renting machine has an input means for inputting at least the kind and the number of recorded media to be rented, an IC card reader/writer, a transfer mechanism for carrying out renting and returning operations of recorded media based on input information via the input means and recorded information of the IC card, and a control means for controlling the respective portions, and

the renting machine controls a number of recorded media to be rented out by comparing the number of recorded media that had been rented out and a predetermined limit recorded in the IC card.

4. An automatic renting machine for automatically renting recorded media such as videocassette tapes utilizing an IC card issued as a customer card, comprising:

an input means for inputting at least the kind and the number of a recorded medium to be rented, an IC card reader/writer, a storing shelf for storing recorded media, a transfer mechanism for carrying out renting and returning operations of recorded media based on input information via the input means and recorded information of the IC card, and a control means for controlling the respective portions, and

means for controlling the number of recorded media to be rented out by comparing the number of recorded media that have been rented out and a predetermined limit recorded in the IC card.

5. An IC card issue machine for issuing an IC card as a membership card for using a commercial article handling machine which carries out automatic renting or automatic vending of videocassette tapes, comprising:

an image scanning means for scanning the identification card of a candidate for membership and an application form for membership, an input means for a customer to input information, an issue means for issuing an IC card based on information from the image scanning means and the input means, a money handling means which conducts receipt, calculation and repayment of money and records the amount of money input by the customer in the IC card to be issued as the amount of deposit, an IC card reader/writer, and a display means for displaying at least the amount of money input by the customer, the balance of deposit recorded in the IC card, and operational procedure of the issue machine, and

means for crediting the deposit amount with a premium based on the recorded contents of the IC card including the amount of deposit and purchase record of commercial articles.