Apparatus and method for storing and retrieving articles
US4814592A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 29, 1986 |
| Grant date | Mar 21, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 29, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07F9/02
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A machine from which a customer can selectably purchase or rent a videocassette or return a previously rented videocassette. The machine comprises a videocassette storage device for storing a plurality of videocassettes in discrete, identifiable locations. A customer identification device, receives information about the customer. A mode selection device enable the customer to select among a vend mode, a rent mode and a return mode, and a videocassette selection device enable the customer to select a desired videocassette to be vended or rented. A customer access device is provided for dispensing the selected videocassette to the customer in the vend and rent modes and receiving the videocassette from the customer in the return mode. A videocassette identification device receives information representative of the identity of the videocassette being returned in the return mode. A videocassette transport device is provided for transporting the selected videocassette from the storage device to the customer access device in the vend and rent modes and transporting the videocassette from the customer access device to any available empty discrete location in the storage device in the retu…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.