Video cassette vending machine
US5133441A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 4, 1989 |
| Grant date | Jul 28, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 4, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07F7/0866
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An electronically controlled dispensing machine for articles such as video cassettes has a plurality of individual lockable compartments. The compartments have transparent doors through which the articles can be identified. A customer presents a coded data storage token with a credit amount stored on it to the machine, and selects and removes one or more articles. The machine reduces the credit amount on the token accordingly. The articles can be returned to a vacant compartment in due course, and if the article is returned late, a further amount is deducted from the credit amount on the token. Sensors in each compartment ensure that the cassettes are inserted correctly by sensing an electrically conductive portion of the cassettes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.