Automatic machine for leasing or selling of articles like DVD in cassettes

The present invention relates to an automatic machine for leasing or selling of flat articles to be chosen, with two substantially plane sides, joined by edges, like DVD in cassettes and the like.

Leasing and selling of such articles have increased substantially in later years. Until now this activity has been managed substantially manually over desk. There is however, a demand for a possibility to carry out this activity greatly independently of personal and business hours, that is to say open hours.

The object of the present invention is thus to achieve an automatic machine of the art mentioned introductorily, which is versatile and efficient in use but may yet be sold at a cost efficient price.

According to the invention such an automatic machine is characterised primarily, as is obvious from the preamble of the attached l:st patent claim, in that the conveyor comprises a first conveyor element, which is movable in y- x direction, and a second conveyor element movable in relationship to the first conveyor element in the z- direction, whereas the second conveyor element is provided with driving belts, arranged to drive the article, at least at one edge of the article, in the z- direction in relationship to the second conveyor element for placing of the article in the shelf element or withdrawal of the article from there, whereas the second conveyor element is provided with a transmitter/ receiver unit for identifying of articles to be chosen, which transmitter/ receiver unit transmits an electromagnetic wave for the activation of a transponder, provided at one side of the article to be chosen for retransmission of identifying information to the transmitter/ receiver unit.

Many embodiments are per se possible within the scope of the invention. In the following a preferred embodiment of the automatic machine according to the invention is disclosed, reference being made to the enclosed schematic figures, of which:

figure 1 shows, in perspective, a casing to an automatic machine, figure 2 shows a side view of a portion of the automatic machine, figure 3 shows a view perpendicularly to the left portion of figure 3, whereas figure 4 shows, in perspective, a detail from figures 3 and 4.

In figure 1 the automatic machine is shown generally marked by 1, comprising two sides, from which one is shown marked by 2, and an upper side 3 and a cover 4, possible to open. An opening 5 in this is for feeding and withdrawal of articles to be chosen. Furthermore there is shown at the cover a portion of a paying machine, that is to say its card reader, marked by 6, and a display 7. These will more closely described in the following. In figure 2 there is shown a portion of a support 8 with shelf elements 9 placed vertically. I e in the y- direction, and horizontally, i e in the x- direction for storing of the articles to be chosen. A conveyor, generally marked by 10, comprises a first conveyor element 11, controllable in the y- x- direction along a vertical first control element 12, driven by a step motor 13, which drives a driving belt 14, in connection with a second control element 15, along which the conveyor element 11 is controllable in horizontal direction by a driving belt 16, also driven by a step motor. A second conveyor element 17 is provided, controllable in relationship to the first conveyor element 11, perpendicular to the y- x- plane, i e in the z- direction, by a step motor 18. The relative position between the first conveyor element 11 and the second conveyor element 17 is indicated by first, second and third position giver 19, 20, 21 for the z- direction, see figure 2. The second conveyor element 17 is shown more distinctly in figure 4. This is provided with four upper steering wheels 22 and 23 and four lower steering wheels 24 and 25 at each side for steering of an article to be chosen, this may be driven forwards or backwards in the z- direction by a driving belt 26 at one side and by a driving belt 27 at the other side. Per see the driving may be achieved by one single driving belt at one side, if corresponding steering wheels are provided with vertical axes at the other side, but the embodiment shown is safe, and is thus preferred. At the bottom of the second conveyor element 17 there are provided fourth and fifth position

giver 28 and 29 for control of the position of the article to be chosen in relationship to the second conveyor element 17. At the bottom of the second conveyor element 17 there is also provided a transmitter/ receiver 30 for transmitting and receiving of an electromagnetic wave, preferably in the microwave region in cooperation with a not shown identifying transponder, provided at the lower side of the article to be chosen. The transmitter thus activates the transponder to transmit an identifying signal.

Said display 7 shows symbols like pictures or signs for the articles to be chosen. According to technique, known per see, there is a first means , for moving of said symbols within a relatively large assortment and a second means for choice of an article to be chosen, for example provided to be controlled by a touch of the display for indication of a chosen article. As already mentioned there is a card reader 6 at the front side of the casing 1 , at the cover 4, for a paying routine according to technique, known per see. The automatic machine comprises a not shown computer unit with a memory unit for co-ordination of the choice of articles, identifying of same, control of withdrawal from or feeding into the shelf element 9 of the support 8 and the paying routine. The automatic machine operates as follows:

For leasing or purchase of an article to be chosen the customer chooses, via the display 7 an article and indicates via the display if the article shall be leased or be bought. The cost, or the leasing conditions and requested paying routine are indicated at the display. The location of the chosen article in the casing 8, I e in a shelf element 9 in same is registered in the memory unit of the computer unit. This orders the conveyor 10 to set the first conveyor element 11 in the corresponding coordinate position y- x, whereupon the second conveyor element 17 is ordered to move forwards in the z- direction to the article chosen, whereupon the driving belts 26, 27 are activated to retract the article chosen, whereupon the first conveyor 19 is ordered to set the y- x- coordinates for the first conveyor element 11 to a position, where the second conveyor element 17 assisted by the driving belts 26,27 can convey the article chosen out through the opening 5. As

mentioned above, before this, the article chosen is identified by the transmitter/ receiver30 in cooperation with a transponder at the lower side of the article. The paying routine via the card reader 6 may be performed at a chosen moment during the conveying procedure just described. When returning a leased article chosen the customer inserts it through the opening 5, and the article is drawn in by the second conveyor element 17 by aid of the driving belts 26 and 27. The article is identified as mentioned above, and the conveyor 10 is ordered to convey the article to a predetermined shelf element 9.

When mounting the automatic machine it may happen, that the position relationship between the conveyor and the shelf elements is not distinctly defined by the design, due to variations in bending, sheet tension and supporting structure. In order to have the automatic machine operate without disturbances a preferred embodiment defines, that the conveyor 10 and thus preferably the first conveying element 11 carries a sensor, in the figures 2 and 3 marked by 31, and at the support 8 provided (in the figures not shown) with this sensor such cooperating position elements, that the conveyor 10 is brought to find the correct y- and x- coordinate for placing of the article in the shelf element 9 or withdrawal of the article from there. A program in the computer unit performs this correction. The sensor is preferably optical and the position elements of corresponding art.