Dedicated self-service return terminal and method of operating a dedicated self-service return terminal for receiving returned media on which entertainment data is stored

• US 8,346,387 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2009
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Yepez, Rafael, Mastry, Jason A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MACKEY, PATRICK HEWEY
• Application Number:
  US12/641,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20110153060A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 700/218, 700/213, 700/214, 700/228, 235/383, 221/197
• US Class Current: 700/218
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/069 by box-like containers, e.g. videocassettes, books

Abstract

A dedicated self-service return terminal is provided for receiving returned media on which entertainment data is stored. The dedicated self-service return terminal comprises a media transporter having a media return slot through which returned media can be received from a customer returning the media, a removable media storage bin for storing returned media which has been received through the slot, a container having a chamber in which the media storage bin is installed when the media storage bin is in use, a sliding mechanism arranged to support the container for vertical sliding movement between a top position in which the media storage bin can receive returned media received through the slot and a bottom position in which the media storage bin can be removed from the container, and a controller arranged to control the sliding mechanism to effect movement of the container between the top and bottom positions during operation of the dedicated self-service return terminal.

Claims

1. A dedicated self-service return terminal for receiving returned media on which entertainment data is stored, the dedicated self-service return terminal comprising:

a media transporter having a media return slot through which returned media can be received from a customer returning the media;

a removable media storage bin for storing returned media which has been received through the slot;

a container having a chamber in which the media storage bin is installed when the media storage bin is in use;

a sliding mechanism arranged to support the container for vertical sliding movement between a top position in which the media storage bin can receive returned media received through the slot and a bottom position in which the media storage bin can be removed from the container; and

a controller arranged to control the sliding mechanism to effect movement of the container between the top and bottom positions during operation of the dedicated self-service return terminal.

2. A dedicated self-service return terminal according to claim 1, wherein the media transporter comprises a bare digital versatile disc (DVD) transporter.

3. A dedicated self-service return terminal according to claim 1, wherein the media transporter comprises a cased digital versatile disc (DVD) transporter.

4. A dedicated self-service return terminal according to claim 1, wherein (i) the media transporter comprises a bare digital versatile disc (DVD) transporter which has a bare DVD receiving slot and a cased DVD transporter which has a cased DVD receiving slot, and (ii) the removable media storage bin comprises a first bin portion for storing bare DVDs which have been received through the bare DVD receiving slot and a second bin portion for storing cased DVDs which have been received through the cased DVD receiving slot.

5. A dedicated self-service return terminal for receiving either returned bare media on which entertainment data is stored or returned cased media on which entertainment data is stored, the dedicated self-service return terminal comprising:

a first media transporter having a first media return slot through which returned media can be received from a customer returning the media;

a second media transporter having a second media return slot through which returned media can be received from a customer returning the media;

a first removable media storage bin for storing returned media which has been received through the first media return slot;

a second removable media storage bin for storing returned media which has been received through the second media return slot;

a container having a first chamber portion in which the first media storage bin is installed and a second chamber portion in which the second media storage bin is installed when the first and second media storage bins are in use;

a sliding mechanism arranged to support the container for vertical sliding movement between a top position in which the first and second media storage bins can receive returned media received through their corresponding first and second media return slots and a bottom position in which the first and second media storage bin can be removed from the first and second chamber portions of the container; and

a controller arranged to control the sliding mechanism to effect movement of the container between the top and bottom positions during operation of the dedicated self-service return terminal.

6. A dedicated self-service return terminal according to claim 5, wherein (i) the sliding mechanism comprises a pair of parallel rails, (ii) one side of the container is securely coupled to one of the rails, and (iii) an opposite side of the container is securely coupled to the other one of the rails.

7. A dedicated self-service return terminal according to claim 5, wherein (i) the first media transporter comprises a bare digital versatile disc (DVD) transporter, and (ii) the second media transporter comprises a cased DVD transporter.

8. A dedicated self-service return terminal according to claim 5, wherein (i) the first media transporter comprises a bare digital versatile disc (DVD) transporter, (ii) the second media transporter comprises a cased DVD transporter, and (iii) the first media storage bin and the second media storage bin are of the same construction.

9. A method of operating a dedicated self-service return terminal which is capable of receiving either a returned bare digital versatile disc (DVD) on which entertainment data is stored or a returned cased DVD on which entertainment data is stored, the method comprising:

storing in a DVD storage bin a returned DVD which has been received through a DVD return slot from a customer returning the DVD; and

supporting the DVD storage bin for vertical sliding movement between a top position in which the DVD storage bin can receive returned DVDs received through the DVD return slot and a bottom position in which the DVD storage bin can be removed from the dedicated self-service return terminal.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the DVD storage bin comprises one portion in which bare DVDs can be received and another portion in which cased DVDs can be received.