GB2180526A

GB2180526A - Dispensing machines for video cassettes

Info

Publication number: GB2180526A
Application number: GB08523024A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Frederick Dearlove; Ian Nicholson Jones
Original assignee: DELVEX Ltd
Current assignee: DELVEX Ltd
Priority date: 1985-09-18
Filing date: 1985-09-18
Publication date: 1987-04-01
Also published as: GB8523024D0

Abstract

Automatic selection of a video cassette from a cassette store 2 is made by means of a selector 9 having an operating keyboard, and the selected cassette is dispensed through an output slot 3 under control of a microprocessor 1. After the cassette has been viewed, it may be returned to the machine by introducing it into an input slot 5 from which it is automatically returned to the cassette store 2. Verification of a user's entitlement to withdraw a cassette may be made by a card reader 7, and automatic adjustment of a user's credit may be made by a credit control unit 8. Such a machine enables a video cassette to be hired by a user by direct interaction with the machine, and this enables the user to hire or return a cassette at virtually any time. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Dispensing machines This invention relates to dispensing machines.

With the advent of low-cost video cassette playing machines, a large number of video cassette lending libraries have come into being which provide a range of prerecorded video cassettes for hire by users for a short period in return for a fixed fee. Whilst such libraries are open for long hours, it can still be inconvenient for a user to have to visit the library within these hours both to collect a cassette for hire and to. subsequently return it at the end of the hire period. It is believed that this prevents certain users from hiring as many cassettes as they would do if collection and return of cassettes were available at any time.

It is an object of the invention to provide a dispensing machine enabling items for hire to be dispensed automatically.

According to the invention there is provided a dispensing machine comprising manually actuable selection means for making a selection from amongst a plurality of video and/or audio prerecorded items, such as video cassettes, transfer means for automatically transferring a selected item from a storage position to a dispensing position in response to such manual selection, and a dispensing outlet which is located in said dispensing position and through which the selected item is dispensed by the transfer means.

It is envisaged that such a machine may be installed at a location in a main street or in a hotel or garage, for example, so that, by use of the machine, a user may hire an item at virtually any time, without being limited to the opening hours of a lending library.

The machine may also include a return inlet through which an item to be returned may be introduced into a return position, and transfer means for transferring the returned item from the return position to a storage position. This also enables a user to return a hired item at any time.

Additionally the machine may include verification means for verifying that the user is entitled to use the machine, for example by reading a pass member presented to the machine by the user. In the case where the verification means and pass member are also adapted to provide identification of the user, the machine may incorporate means for recording the identification of the user together with an identification of an item dispensed by the machine. In this case receipt means may also be incorporated for providing the user with a printed receipt containing an identification of the item dispensed.

It is preferred that the above-mentioned pass member should be in the form of a magnetically encoded card, such as that commonly used in relation to cash dispensing machines.

Furthermore the pass member may be adapted to contain information thereon relating to credit assigned to the user, and the machine may include credit control means for responding to the credit information on the pass member and for changing this information to indicate a reduced credit in response to an item being dispensed by and/or returned to the machine.

The machine will generally also include timer means. for timing transactions with the machine, and for indicating, for example, when the return of a hired item is overdue.

The machine preferably also includes a visual display by means of which operating instructions and/or available selection information may be given to the user.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a machine for dispensing video cassettes in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which the single figure is a schematic block diagram of the machine.

The illustrated machine is based on an appropriately programmed microprocessor 1 having a non-volatile memory. A large number of prerecorded video cassettes, preferably all of VHS format or all of BETAMAX format, are stored in a compact cassette store 2. Cassettes from this store 2 may be dispensed through a cassette output slot 3 under control of an output control unit 4, and cassettes may be returned to the store 2 through a cassette input slot 5 under control of an input control unit 6.

A user who wishes to withdraw a selected cassette from the machine inserts a magnetically encoded card into a card reader 7 which verifies, in association with a credit control unit 8, whether the user is entitled to withdraw a cassette from the machine and whether the user has sufficient credit to effect such a withdrawal. Upon approval by the credit control unit 8, the user is enabled to select the cassette required for hire by means of a selector 9 having an operating keyboard, appropriate operating instructions being provided on a VDU display 10. Once the selection has been passed to the microprocessor 1, the selected cassette is automatically retrieved from the store 2 and dispensed through the output slot 3, a printed receipt containing the tape serial number, the date and time, and the tape rental rates being printed by a printer 12 and vended along with the selected cassette.The appropriate date and time are provided by a timer 11.

After viewing the cassette, the user may return the cassette by introducing it into the input slot 5, and at the same time introducing the magnetically encoded card into the card reader 7. The cassette is then automatically returned to the store 2, and the microprocessor 1 calculates the appropriate rental charge on the basis of the time of withdrawal as stored in the microprocessor 1 and the time of return as determined by the timer 11. The appropriate rental charge is subtracted from the credit indicated on the card in the card reader 7. A receipt showing the rental period and the rental charges is then printed by the printer 12 and dispensed.

The machine maintains a record of all transactions made, including details of cassettes hired and rental charges, and including reports of requests for any items out of stock. The machine may also provide visual information as to the selection of cassettes available for hire, and may even provide selected lists on the basis of selection criteria introduced into the machine by the user, for example a list of all films in the name of a particular director.

Although the above description is given on the basis that user identification is transmitted to the machine simply by means of the magnetically encoded card, it will be appreciated that additional security may be provided if the user is also required to manually enter into the machine a unique identification code assigned to the user.

Claims

1. A dispensing machine comprising manually actuable selection means for making a selection from amongst a plurality of video and/or audio prerecorded items, first transfer means for automatically transferring a selected item from a storage position to a dispensing position in response to such manual selection, a dispensing outlet which is located in said dispensing position and through which the selected item is dispensed by the transfer means, a return inlet through which an item to be returned may be introduced into a return position, and second transfer means for transferring the returned item for the return position to a storage position.

2. A machine accoring to Claim 1, including verification means for verifying that a user is entitled to use the machine.

3. A machine according to Claim 2, wherein the verification means is adapted to read a pass member presented to the machine by the user.

4. A machine according to Claim 3, wherein, where the verification means and pass member are adapted to provide identification of the user, the machine incorporates means for recording the indentification of the user together with an identification of an item dispensed.

5. A machine according to Claim 4, incorporating receipt means for providing the user with a printed receipt containing an identification of the item dispensed.

6. A machine according to Claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the verification means is adapted to read a pass member in the form of a magnetically encoded card.

7. A machine according to Claim 3, 4, 5 or 6, intended to be used with a pass member which is adapted to contain information thereon relating to credit assigned to the user, wherein the machine includes credit control means for responding to the credit information on the pass member and for changing this information to indicate a reduced credit in response to an item being dispensed by, and/or returned to, the machine.

8. A machine according to any preceding claim, which also includes timer means for timing transactions with the machine.

9. A machine according to any preceding claim, which also includes a visual display by means of which operating instruction and/or available selection information may be given to a user.

10. A dispensing machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.