JPH01134591A - Video tape renting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To automatically perform rewinding to the beginning and to recover a defective tape by carrying a returned video tape to a video tape rewinder and rewinding it when a customer detector does not detect a customer for more than fixed time and recovering the video tape to a defective tape recovery part when the rewinding operation is not normally performed. CONSTITUTION: In the case that the fixed time elapses without detecting the customer, whether or not unprocessed tapes are present is judged by referring to a video tape file. When the unprocessed tape is not present, a standby operation is continued as it is. When the unprocessed tape is present, the video tape is set to the video tape rewinder and the rewinding operation is performed. When rewinding is normally performed, the video tape is housed in a prescribed slot again, the rewinding completion flag of the video tape file is set and the standby operation is returned. When rewinding is not normally performed, it is judged as the defective tape, the video tape is recovered to the defective tape recovery part, a code for indicating that it is recovered to the defective tape recovery part is stored in the video tape file and the standby operation is returned.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (a) Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a video tape roll that accepts and returns unattended video tapes (recorded video cassette tapes; the same applies in the claims). Regarding the return device.

(b) Summary of the Invention The videotape rental device according to the present invention rewinds returned videotapes during the customer's waiting time, and collects videotapes that have not been rewound normally as defective tapes. . This allows the rented video tape to be viewed as is, and also prevents defective tapes from being rented out.

(C) Prior Art Currently, videotape lending devices are in practical use. This video tape lending device stores a video tape in a slot, takes it out from the slot and releases it when lending, and stores it in the slot again when it is returned for the next lending. A barcode for identifying the videotape is formed on the surface of the videotape, and when the videotape is returned, by reading this barcode it is possible to determine which videotape has been returned. In conventional devices, if it is determined that the correct videotape has been returned by reading the barcode, the videotape is stored in a predetermined slot and the return acceptance operation is completed.

(d) Problems to be solved by the invention However, some videotapes that are returned after viewing are returned without being rewound.
Conventionally, the videotape is rented out as is, so the customer who rented the videotape had to rewind it before watching it, which led to a decline in service.On the other hand, the customer who watched the videotape could not rewind it to the beginning. It was a hassle. Furthermore, some video tapes have deteriorated in quality as a result of being rented out due to electricity changes, and such video tapes cannot be rewound properly. Conventional devices that lend the tape to the next customer without rewinding it cannot remove such defective tapes, and there is a risk that the tape will be rented out as is, causing trouble with the customer.

This invention was made in view of these problems.
Automatically rewinds returned video tapes to the beginning.
An object of the present invention is to provide a videotape lending device capable of collecting defective tapes.

(Means for Solving Problem e1) The videotape lending device of the present invention is provided with a customer detector for detecting the presence of a customer on the front of the device, as well as a videotape rewinding device and a defective tape collection section inside the device. , a rewinding means for transporting and rewinding the returned videotape to the videotape rewinding device when the customer detector does not detect a customer for a predetermined period of time after the videotape is returned; and this rewinding operation. The present invention is characterized by further comprising a collecting means for collecting the video tape in the defective tape collecting section when the video tape is not properly processed.

(") Function: In the videotape lending device of the present invention, after the videotape to be returned is placed in the receiver, when the customer detector detects that the customer is gone, the returned videotape is transferred to the videotape rewinding device. The videotape is then rewound to the beginning.As a result, the videotape rented out is always rewound to the beginning, which improves customer service.In addition, by operating as described above, the videotape is always rewound to the beginning. It is possible to rewind video tapes during idle time.Furthermore, by collecting video tapes for which the video tape rewinding device has not been able to rewind them correctly as defective tapes, it is possible to rewind defective tapes in advance. It is possible to prevent the loan from being made available for further lending.

(g) Embodiment FIG. 2 is a schematic external view of a videotape rental apparatus which is an embodiment of the present invention. On the right side of the front panel of the device main body 1, there is a CRT 2. Card insertion slot 3. Keyboard 4. Receipt release port 5. A customer sensor 6 is provided. Operation guidance etc. are displayed on the CRT 2. A customer card for identifying a customer is inserted into the card insertion slot 3. keyboard 4
has a numeric keypad and function keys, and in addition to selecting transaction details such as lending/returning, the identification number of the videotape desired to be lent is input. Receipts for lending and returning are discharged from the receipt discharge port 5. The customer sensor 6 is a photo sensor and detects the approach of an object (customer).

Further, a notice panel 7 and a video cassette exit 8 are provided on the left side of the front panel. The bulletin board 7 introduces the contents of videotapes that can be rented and their identification numbers. A video cassette to be rented is discharged from the video cassette exit 8, and a video cassette to be returned is inserted.

FIG. 3 shows a structural diagram of the inside of the device main body 1. The upper part of the videotape storage shelf 50 is divided into a plurality of slots 70. Each slot 70 stores one rentable video tape. Further, a video tape rewinding machine 72 and a defective tape collection section 71 are provided at the bottom of the video tape storage shelf 50.
and is provided. The returned videotape is rewound to the beginning by a videotape rewinder 812 and stored in a predetermined slot 70. A videotape that cannot be rewound normally is considered to be a defective tape and is not returned to a predetermined slot, but is stored in the defective tape collection section 71 and is prohibited from being lent out thereafter.

Horizontal rails 5 are provided above and below the front of the video tape storage shelf 50.
7.57' is provided, and this horizontal axis rail 57.5
Guide plates 59 and 59' are slidably attached to 7'. Further, the guide plate 59.59' is engaged with a belt 55.55' driven by a motor 56 and a shaft 58 that transmits the driving force of the motor 56.
The motor 56 rotates to move in the horizontal axis direction.

There are two vertical shaft rails 5 between the upper and lower guide plates 59 and 59'.
4 is attached to the vertical axis rail 54, and a videotape conveying section 51 is slidably attached to this vertical shaft rail 54.

This videotape transport section 51 is driven in the vertical direction by a motor 52 attached to an upper guide plate 59 and a belt 5-3. i.e. motors 56 and 52
By appropriately driving the video tape storage shelf 50
The videotape transport section 51 can be moved to any desired position.

The video tape transport section 51 is formed on a section in which video tapes can be stored with the front lid facing downward, and both openings thereof are open to the video tape storage shelf 50 and the video cassette exit 8 side.

This videotape transport section 51 can be moved in the direction of the videotape storage shelf 50 by a moving mechanism (not shown).
This movement causes the slot 70 and the videotape rewinder 7 to
It is possible to grasp the video tape stored in 2. After gripping, a conveyor belt (described later) is driven to take the videotape into the interior. A motor and a conveyor belt (not shown) are provided inside the bidet set conveying section 51 to take in the video tape and a slot 70 for the taken video tape. Ejection to the videotape inlet/outlet 8 can take place. In addition, the videotape transport section 5
1 is provided with a barcode league 34.

The barcode league 34 reads the barcode printed on the back of the videotape to identify the returned videotape.

Further, a shutter 36 is arranged behind the videotape inlet/outlet 8 so as to be openable and closable. When the shutter 36 is closed, no video tape can be inserted into the video tape inlet/outlet 8. Furthermore, the video tape cannot be discharged from the video tape transport section 51 to the video tape inlet/outlet 8. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control section of the video tape rental apparatus. CPU that controls the operation of the entire device
Connected to l0 are a ROMI 12 that stores programs and the like, a RAM 12 that stores data and the like, and an interface 13 that inputs and outputs data and the like to each operating section. The interface 13 includes a CRT control section 14 . Keyboard control unit 15. Card league 16. receipt printer 17
．． Videotape transport device 18. Videotape rewinding device 1
9. Floppy disk device 21 and transmission control section 23
is connected. The CRT control unit 14 controls images displayed on the CRT 2. The keyboard control unit 15 controls data input from the keyboard 4. The card reader 16 reads and writes data on a card inserted through the card insertion slot 3. The receipt printer 17 prints the data sent from the CPU 10 on paper and discharges it from the receipt discharge port 5. The videotape transport device 18 includes the videotape transport section 51. Motor 52.56. Contains a barcode league 34, etc., and transports video tapes. The videotape rewinding device 19 includes the videotape rewinding machine 72, and in addition to controlling the drive of the device, it also determines whether or not the set videotape has been rewinded normally. A floppy disk 22 is inserted into the floppy disk device 21 to store data. In addition, the transmission control unit 23
This is a device for communicating with 4 and performing customer authentication, etc.

FIG. 5 shows the structure of a videotape file set on the floppy disk 22. In addition to this videotape file, a sales management file and the like are set in the control unit of the videotape lending device.

The videotape file includes the identification number of the videotape stored in the slot 70, the customer number of the lending customer if the videotape is being lent, and location data.

A rewound flag is set for each videotape. The location data is coded data indicating whether the video tape is stored in the slot 70, lent to a customer, or collected by the defective tape collection section 71 as a defective tape.

Further, the rewind flag is a flag that stores whether or not the tape has been rewound to the beginning by the video tape rewinder 72 after being returned.

The operation of this control section will be explained with reference to the flowchart in FIG. First, in the standby operation, it is determined by nl and n2 whether or not the customer sensor 6 is detecting a customer and whether a certain period of time (about 10 seconds) has elapsed without detecting a customer. This is a standby operation. If a customer is detected, it waits at nl and n3 until a card is inserted, and when the card is inserted, the card data is sent to the center 24 for inquiry. If the inquiry result shows that the authentication is OK, you can accept the loan/return selection using the function key (
n5). When a lending transaction is selected, a lending process is performed in which the videotape selected by the customer is released from the videotape entrance 8 (nl), and when a return is selected, the videotape inserted from the videotape entrance 8 is released. There will be a reception desk for returns (n8). Thereafter, the videotape file is updated based on the respective processing contents (n9), the card is returned (nlo), and the process returns to standby operation. If the card is not authenticated, the transaction will be rejected and proceed directly to nlO.

Further, if a certain period of time has passed without detecting a customer, the videotape file is checked to determine whether there is an unprocessed tape (tape that has not been rewound yet) with nil. If there is no unprocessed tape, the standby operation continues, and if there is an unprocessed tape, the videotape is set in the videotape rewinder 72 and a rewinding operation is performed (n13). If the rewinding is successful (n14), the videotape will be stored in the specified slot again.nl? ), sets the rewound flag of the videotape file (nl?) and returns to standby operation, and if rewinding is not performed normally, the videotape is determined to be a defective tape and is collected by the defective tape collection unit. Then, a code indicating that the tape has been collected by the defective tape collection section is stored in the video tape file (n17), and the process returns to standby operation.

n2. n12. The operation of n13 corresponds to the rewinding means of the present invention, and the operation of n14. n15 corresponds to the collection means of this invention.

(h) Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the videotape lending device of the present invention, the returned videotape can be rewound to the beginning and prepared for the next lending, so the customer who has lent the videotape can leave it as is. The videotape can be viewed and customer service can be improved. Also,
By performing this rewinding operation during idle time when there are no customers, the device for conveying the videotape can be used effectively and the operating efficiency of the device can be improved. Further, customers who return video tapes do not have to rewind the video tapes when returning them, which can save time and effort. Furthermore, video tapes that have not been rewound properly are treated as defective tapes with deteriorated quality and are collected by the defective tape collection department, thereby preventing defective tapes from being lent to customers (and causing unnecessary trouble). can be prevented.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit of a videotape lending device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic external view of the videotape lending device, and FIG. 3 is an internal structure of the videotape lending device. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control section of the videotape rental apparatus, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the videotape files set in the control section. 6-Customer sensor, 71-Defective tape collection section, 72-Video tape rewinding machine.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A customer detector is installed on the front of the device to detect the presence of a customer, and a videotape rewind device and a defective tape collection section are installed inside the device, and after the videotape is returned, the customer detector A rewinding means for transporting the returned videotape to the videotape rewinding device and rewinding it when a customer is not detected; A videotape lending device characterized in that it is provided with a collection means for collecting the videotape in the section.