초록 ▼

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

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 return mode. A memory device stores information about the customer, the selected mode, the selected videocassette, and the coordinates of videocassettes and available empty discrete locations in the storage device.

대표청구항 ▼

Apparatus for selectably vending or renting articles to a customer, comprising: article storage means for storing a plurality of articles in discrete, identifiable locations, mode selection means for enabling the customer to select among a vend mode, a rent mode and a return mode, article selection

Apparatus for selectably vending or renting articles to a customer, comprising: article storage means for storing a plurality of articles in discrete, identifiable locations, mode selection means for enabling the customer to select among a vend mode, a rent mode and a return mode, article selection means for enabling the customer to select a desired article to be vended or rented, customer access means for dispensing the selected article to the customer in the vend and rent modes and receiving the article from the customer in the return mode, article identification means for receiving information representative of the identity of the article being returned in the return mode, article transport means for transporting the selected article from the storage means to the customer access means in the vend and rent modes and transporting the article from the customer access means in the return mode to an available empty discrete location in the storage means closest to said transport means, and memory means for storing information about the coordinates of stored articles and available empty discrete locations in the storage means.