Film drop-off apparatus and method

• US 6,206,585 B1
• Filed: 03/18/1999
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Walter, Joanne S.
• Primary Examiner(s): RUTLEDGE, DELLA J
• Application Number:
  US09/272,040
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 396/564, 355/27, 355/40, 355/41, 358/487, 235/379-381, 345/344, 345/961, 345/978, 705/35, 705/401
• US Class Current: 396/564
• CPC Class Codes: G03D 17/00 Dark-room arrangements not provided for in the preceding groups; Portable dark-rooms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/961 Operator interface with visual structure or function dictated by intended use

Abstract

A film drop-off apparatus which minimizes lost film. The apparatus includes a computer; a display controlled by the computer which displays instructions to a customer, including photo delivery options during a film processing transaction; an input device controlled by the computer which records a customer choice for a photo delivery location; and a printer controlled by the computer which prints information identifying the photo delivery location on a film envelope.

Claims

1. A film processing method comprising:

displaying instructions to a customer by an in-store photo processing kiosk, including photo delivery location options during a film processing transaction in a store;

recording a customer choice for a photo delivery location by the kiosk, wherein the photo delivery location is not limited to the store;

printing information identifying the photo delivery location on an envelope for storing undeveloped film by the kiosk; and

dispensing the envelope by the kiosk.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the printing step comprises:

printing a name and an address of the photo delivery location on the envelope by the kiosk.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the printing step comprises:

printing an identification number associated with the photo delivery location on the envelope by the kiosk.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

delivering the envelope with developed film to an incorrect photo delivery location by a photo lab;

reading the information identifying the photo delivery location on the envelope at the incorrect photo delivery location; and

delivering the envelope to the photo delivery location on the film envelope from the incorrect photo delivery location.

5. A film processing method comprising:

displaying instructions to a customer, including photo delivery location options during a film processing transaction at a first location;

recording a customer choice for a photo delivery location, wherein the photo delivery location is not limited to the first location;

printing information identifying the photo delivery location on a film envelope;

dispensing the envelope to a customer;

depositing the envelope with undeveloped film in an envelope storage bin by the customer;

retrieving and developing the undeveloped film by a film laboratory;

delivering the envelope with developed film to a second location by the film laboratory;

reading the information identifying the photo delivery location on the film envelope; and

if the second location is not the photo delivery location on the film envelope, delivering the envelope to the photo delivery location on the film envelope.

6. A film drop-off apparatus comprising:

an in-store kiosk including

a computer;

a display controlled by the computer which displays instructions to a customer, including photo delivery location options during a film processing transaction in a store;

an input device controlled by the computer which records a customer choice for a photo delivery location, wherein the photo delivery location is not limited to the store; and

a printer controlled by the computer which prints information identifying the photo delivery location on an envelope for storing undeveloped film, and which dispenses the envelope to the customer.