Automated business system and method of vending and returning a consumer product

• US 8,036,774 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2008
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Blust, Donald, Driscoll, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): COLLINS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US12/328,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20090143906A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 700231-244
• US Class Current: 700/241
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/305 for record players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines

Abstract

System and method of dispensing disc-based media and other consumer products. A user can interact with an automated business system to select disc-based media for rental and/or purchase. The automated business system can retrieve the selection from the interior of the automated business system and dispense the selection through a port to the user. The automated business system can retrieve the selection from the port in a return process.

Claims

1. An automated business system comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of user stations accommodated by the housing, each user station having a port to dispense disc-based media and to receive disc-based media that are returned, and a user interface device;

a common retrieval system operable to retrieve disc-based media stored in the housing and transport retrieved disc-based media to the ports of the plurality of user stations for dispensing; and

a mobile RFID reader operable to read a RFID tag on the disc-based media as the disc-based media is retrieved from storage and at the ports,

wherein the common retrieval system further comprises;

a plurality of guide rails supported by a frame;

a track supported by the guide rails;

a gripper assembly supported by a carriage on a linear positioning table on the track, the carriage including

a gripper, and

the mobile RFID reader; and

a multi-axis controller operable to transmit instructions to the linear positioning table, the carriage, and the gripper to control linear movements in the horizontal and vertical directions to move to a position to retrieve a selected disc-based media and transport the selected disc-based media to a dispense port.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of guide rails is laterally spaced apart and coupled together by a link shaft, each pair of guide rails including a sprocket and a conveyor member, the link shaft coupled to a motor and operable to drive the sprockets at a common speed of rotation.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the gripper includes a plurality of fingers operable to move from a first position to a second position to engage the disc-based media.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the gripper assembly further comprises a rotate device.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the rotate device includes a motor operable to rotate the gripper.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the common retrieval system employs a transport mechanism which travels to and from the plurality of ports to storage locations for the disc-based media, and the RFID reader is supported by the transport mechanism.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the transport mechanism further comprises a gripper supported by a carriage.

8. An automated business system comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of user stations accommodated by the housing, each user station having a port to dispense disc-based media and to receive disc-based media that are returned, and a user interface device;

a common retrieval system operable to retrieve disc-based media stored in the housing and transport retrieved disc-based media to the ports of the plurality of user stations for dispensing, the common retrieval system further comprising;

a plurality of guide rails having a length oriented along a vertical axis; and

a linear positioning table supported by the plurality of guide rails, the linear positioning table having a length oriented along a horizontal axis, the linear positioning table adapted to support a carriage operable to move horizontally along about 90 percent of the linear positioning table;

a mobile RFID reader operable to read a RFID tag on the disc-based media as the disc-based media is retrieved from storage and at the ports; and

a gripper supported by the carriage;

wherein the mobile RFID reader is mounted and is on the gripper operable to read an RFID tag on the disc-based media both as the disc-based media is stored and dispensed.