JPH0383193A - Article lending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Industrial field of application This invention, for example, takes out video cassettes stored in a large number of storage shelves and lends them to customers, and the video cassettes returned by the customers are stored in the storage shelves. The present invention relates to an item lending machine such as a video rental device that is returned and stored.

(B) Prior Art Conventionally, there have been devices with the following configuration as the above-mentioned article lending machines, such as video rental machines.

That is, it is equipped with a large number of storage shelves that store a large number of rental items, and a cassette loading/unloading device that automatically controls the loading and unloading of video cassettes by driving the storage shelves in the X-, Y-, and Z-axis directions. It is a video rental device.

In such a video rental apparatus, there are two methods for renting out a desired specific video cassette to a customer after the video cassette is loaded into the storage shelf.

The first method is to manually load a large number of video cassettes into the above-mentioned number of storage shelves, read the barcodes of the videocassettes with the barcode reader of the above-mentioned cassette take-out device, and This is a means for determining and confirming the presence or absence of a specific video cassette desired by a customer.

The second method is to load video cassettes one by one into the multiple storage shelves mentioned above using the cassette loading/unloading device, and store the loading data of all the video cassettes in, for example, RAM, so that the customer can request means to retrieve a particular video cassette.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the first method of the former mentioned above, if a video cassette other than the video cassette that should be stored in the storage shelf is mistakenly stored, the Since the storage error is confirmed only when the bar code of the video cassette is read in the video cassette, there is a problem that time is lost in the lending operation.

Furthermore, even when no video cassette is stored in the storage shelf, the storage error is confirmed for the first time at the time of lending as described above, so there is a problem that time is lost in the lending operation.

On the other hand, in the latter second method mentioned above, since the video cassettes are automatically loaded one by one using the cassette loading/unloading device, it takes a lot of time to load the cassettes into the storage shelf, and the staff member is required to wait until the loading of the cassettes is completed. However, it is necessary to insert the video cassettes one by one from the eject/return port, resulting in extremely poor loading efficiency.

According to the present invention, the initial loading of rental items into a plurality of storage shelves is performed manually by an attendant, which can significantly shorten the loading time, and after this loading, predetermined rental items are placed at predetermined positions on the storage shelves. By executing a registration process that allows items to be lent only when they are stored, storage errors can be confirmed and corrected before the item is lent, improving the quality of the lending service and eliminating time loss when lending. The purpose is to provide an item lending machine that can be used.

(D) Means for Solving the Problems This invention includes a plurality of storage shelves for storing a plurality of rental articles, and an article loading/unloading means for automatically controlling the loading and unloading of rental articles to and from the plurality of storage shelves. The article rental machine includes a detection means for detecting whether or not a rental article is stored in each storage shelf after the rental article is manually loaded, a reading means for reading unique information of the rental article on the storage shelf, and a reading means for reading unique information of the rental article on the storage shelf. An article comprising a storage means for storing loading data, a comparison means for comparing the output of the reading means and the loading data of the storage means, and a registration means for executing a registration process based on a matching output of the comparison means. It is characterized by being a rental machine.

(E) Effect According to the present invention, after rental articles are manually loaded into a plurality of storage shelves, the above-mentioned detection means detects whether or not a rental article is stored in each storage shelf, and then the above-mentioned reading means After reading the unique information of the rental items in each storage shelf,
The above-mentioned comparison means compares the output of the reading means and the loading data stored in advance in the storage means, and the above-mentioned registration means executes the registration process based on the matching output of the comparison means, so that the article can be rented out. Set to .

(f) Effects of the Invention As a result, it becomes possible for staff to manually load rental articles into a plurality of storage shelves for the first time, thereby significantly shortening loading time and improving loading efficiency.

Furthermore, the registration process that automatically detects and determines the quality of loading by the above-mentioned staff member and allows the item to be lent out is executed only when the specified lent item is stored in a predetermined position on the storage shelf. By printing out data that corresponds to unregistered items, it is possible to check and correct storage errors before lending the item, which has the effect of improving lending service and eliminating time loss during lending. .

(g) Examples An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below based on the drawings.

The drawing shows a video rental device as an example of an article rental machine, and in FIG. The image is being displayed in the display area.

On the other hand, each video cassette is set with the work number and shelf number on which it is stored, and each of the aforementioned display areas itself forms a switch, and when this display area is pressed, the title picture is displayed. The work number and shelf number of the indicated video cassette are input.

A video cassette eject/return port 4 is formed on the right side of the title image display section 3 mentioned above.

Further, a CRT 5 as an image display means is provided on the upper right side of the front panel 2 described above, and this CRT 5 displays images of necessary items such as operating procedures or selection items for staff and customers.

Function key 6 at the bottom of the CRT 5 mentioned above...
・Specifies the set mode such as rental mode, return mode, return/rent mode in which the rental is done at the same time as the return, and staff mode.Furthermore, the numeric keypad 7 at the bottom inputs the customer's membership number and other keys manually. .

The card insertion slot 8 is used to insert a memory card 9 (see Figure 3), which will be described later, or a card (membership card) given to the customer.
This membership card has rental data magnetically recorded in addition to the customer's unique identification data such as the customer's membership code number.

The coin input port IO1 and the banknote input port 11 are used to input appropriate coins to pay usage charges or additional charges, the change discharge port 12 discharges change, and the receipt discharge port 13 discharges receipts.

Figure 2 shows the video rental device i! 1 control circuit is shown,
The CPU 20 includes a keyboard unit 14 and a card reader 1.
5. RO based on input from money processing knee unit 16
The cassette loading/unloading device 18, the printer unit 19, and the CRT 5 are driven and controlled according to the program stored in the M17, and the RAM 21 stores necessary data such as the cassette loading data file and lending file shown in FIG.

The above-mentioned keyboard unit 14 includes the switches of the title picture display section 3, the function keys 6, and the numeric keypad 7, and inputs operation signals from these switches and keys.

The card reader 15 reads data on the memory card 9 inserted into the above-mentioned card insertion slot 8, and also reads data magnetically recorded on the membership card given to the customer, or magnetically writes new data.

The money processing unit 16 determines the authenticity and denomination of the coins or banknotes inserted into the coin input slot 10 and bill input slot 11, calculates the input amount, and releases change to the change output opening 12 when necessary. do.

The printer unit 19 prints out registration and confirmation information indicating the cassette storage status on a receipt, and
Journal rental data including usage fees and additional charges,
A receipt is printed out, and each of the above-mentioned receipts is discharged into the receipt discharge port 13.

The cassette loading/unloading device 18 takes out video cassettes (not shown) stored in a large number of storage shelves inside the video rental device 1, releases them into the take-out/return port 4, and also releases the video cassettes (not shown) stored in the multiple storage shelves inside the video rental device 1 into the take-out/return port 4. Return the video cassette to its original storage shelf.

Further, the above-mentioned cassette loading/unloading device 18 is equipped with a sensor 22 and a barcode reader 23, and the above-mentioned sensor 22 is connected to each of the above-mentioned storage shelves after the video cassette is loaded into each of the above-mentioned storage shelves by manual operation by an attendant. The presence or absence of a video cassette is detected, and the above-mentioned bar code reader 23 reads the bar code attached to the outside of the video cassette as unique information of the cassette.

The above-described cassette loading/unloading device 18 is driven and controlled in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions by a mechanism (not shown) to take out and return the video cassette.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the memory card 9, which has a constant data area Ct and a screen data area C2.
and a cassette loading data area 03, and magnetically records data on the number of video cassettes to be rented, maximum delinquency period data, etc. as operational data of the video rental equipment r111 in the constant data area C1 described above.

In addition, the above-mentioned CRT5 is provided in the above-mentioned screen data area C2.
Magnetically records various screen data such as idle screen data to be displayed on the screen.

Further, in the above-mentioned cassette loading data area C3, each data of the video cassettes stored in each shelf of the storage shelf, such as the work name, status, work name, cassette blood, same-day charge, next-day charge, and overdue charge, is magnetically recorded. .

Here, in the above-mentioned status of the cassette loading data area C3, when distributing and storing video cassettes in the storage shelf, the content of the status is set to "Miso Latin",
If distribution and storage are not performed, the status content is set to "Mitouroku".

Also, when collecting video cassettes from storage shelves,
Change the status of the corresponding work Nα from "Miso Latin" to "
If you change the video cassette in the storage shelf, the status of the corresponding work Nα will be kept as "Miso Latin", and the work name, cassette Nα
and update fees accordingly to replace video cassettes.

Furthermore, the relationship between the above-mentioned works and the storage shelves in the video rental device 1 is such that, for example, works Nα1 to Nα36 are placed on the first shelf from the top, and works &37 to Nα72 are placed on the second shelf from the top.
By similarly associating the works Nα with the shelves, the number of shelves on which the video cassette will be distributed and stored is set based on the work Nα.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the cassette loading data file configured in the RAM 21 mentioned above, where area E1 contains work Nα data, area E2 contains status data, and area E
3 contains the work name data, area E4 contains the cassette Nα data, area E5 contains the same-day charge data, next-day charge data, and overdue charge data, and area E6 contains the slot data corresponding to the shelf number for each work. Remember.

In other words, this cassette loading data file has a work area substantially similar to the cassette loading data area C3 of the memory card 9 shown in FIG.

Here, the contents of the status of area E2 are as follows.

``Touroku''...The correct video cassette is loaded in the storage shelf and can be borrowed. ”・・・・・・A state in which the video cassette is not stored or distributed in the storage shelf (a state in which it cannot be lent out) “Host Beetle”…A state in which the lending of the video cassette in question has been prohibited by the host (a state in which it cannot be lent out) ) "Misora Latin"... Area of shame for the work in question (data is stored in E3 to E6, but status area E2 is "unregistered and not registered (non-rental letter!)" m) “Miteigi”・・・・・・・・・When the video cassette is returned, another video cassette of unknown contents is stored on the shelf where this video cassette should be stored (lending In addition, in the embodiment shown in FIG.
l The video cassette of 11111111J is in the slot (
It is shown that the video cassettes 5 and cassette r333333333J are stored and distributed in the slot (shelf k) 107.

The operation of the registration process and confirmation process of the video rental apparatus 1 configured as described above will be explained below with reference to the main routine in FIG. 5 and the subroutines in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The first step 31 in the operation flowchart of FIG.
Based on the work list brought by the host (a list in which the work file information in the memory card 9 is printed out and separated into each stage), the staff member places a large number of video cassettes from the work Nα on the corresponding shelf. Load the storage positions of the stages manually one by one.

Next, in a second step 32, when the memory card 9 is inserted into the card insertion slot 8, the CPU 20 executes initial processing.

That is, in this second step 32, the CPU 20 reads the contents of the cassette loading data area C3 of the memory card 9.
Copy it to the work area of AM21 (see Figure 4).

At this time, based on the status contents of the memory card 9, if there is video cassette data with the title of the work and the cassette No. 1 fee shown in Figure 3, the status area E in Figure 4 is displayed.
2 is set to "Miso Latin", and if the above-mentioned video cassette data is not available, the status area E2 in FIG. 4 is set to "Mitoroku". Incidentally, since FIG. 4 shows the processing contents at a seventh step 47, which will be described later, some of the contents are different from the contents of the initial processing at the second step 32 in FIG.

Next, in a third step 33, the clerk operates the above-mentioned function key 6 to set the mode to the clerk mode.

Next, in a fourth step 34, a registration process is executed, and the details of this registration process will be described later with reference to the subroutine shown in FIG.

Next, in a fifth step 35, the function key 6 is operated to set the mode to lending mode or return mode, and then lending/returning processing is executed.

The above-mentioned lending process allows only the lending of video cassettes whose status is "Rental" as shown in Figure 4, and when this video cassette is rented, the status is updated to "Kashidashichu" and the user When a user selects a video cassette to be lent out, the CRT 5 displays the fact that the video cassette is being lent out, and when the video cassette is returned, the status shown in Figure 4 is updated from ``Rent'' to ``Rent''. This makes it possible to re-rent the item.

Next, in a sixth step 36, the clerk operates the above-mentioned function key 6 to set the mode to the clerk mode.

Next, in a seventh step 37, a confirmation process is executed, and details of this confirmation process will be described later with reference to the subroutine shown in FIG.

Next, the operation of the registration process at the fourth step 34 in the main routine of FIG. 5 described above will be explained with reference to the subroutine of FIG. 6.

In a second step 32, the CPU 20 drives and controls the cassette loading/unloading device 18, and the sensor 22 of the device 18 detects whether or not a video cassette as a rental item is stored in each storage shelf.

Next, in a second step 42, the CPU 20 determines whether or not a video cassette is stored based on the output of the sensor 22 described above, and when the video cassette is stored, the process proceeds to the next third step 43, while when the video cassette is not stored, it is reinserted. After storing the necessary shelf numbers in the RAM 21 in advance, the process moves to a seventh step 47, which will be described later.

In the third step 43 described above, the CPU 20 drives and controls the barcode reader 23 of the cassette loading/unloading device 18 to read barcode information from the barcode of the video cassette that has been manually loaded into the storage shelf by the staff member.

Next, in a fourth step 44, the CPU 20 sequentially searches for parts whose status content in the cassette loading data file shown in FIG.
Since the figure shows the contents of the process at the seventh step 47, which will be described later, the search area at the fourth step 44 corresponds to the "search" section shown in FIG.

Next, in a fifth step 45, the CPU 20 performs the above-mentioned third
The barcode information read in step 43 is compared to see if there is a match with the cassette number information of all the searched parts described above, and if there is no matching barcode, the process moves to the next sixth step 46 and the sample is extracted. While printing the required cassette on the receipt, if there is a matching barcode, the process moves to another seventh step 47.

In this seventh step 47, the CPU 20
The contents of the status of the cassette loading data file are updated from "Miso Latin" to "Touroku" and the status registration process is executed.

Next, in an eighth step 48, the CPU 20 sets the shelf number of the storage shelf in the slot area E6 corresponding to the work Nα whose status content has been updated from "Miso Latin" to "Touroku".

For example, as shown in Figure 4, the slot corresponding to the work Nα■ is set to rl OIJ, the slot corresponding to the work Nα2 is set to rl 03J, and the slot corresponding to the work 5 is set to ri.
Set it to O7J and make it available for lending.

Next, in a ninth step 49, the CPU 20 determines whether all the registration processing for one shelf has been completed, and if the registration processing has not been completed, the process returns to the first step 41, while when it is completed, the process proceeds to the next tenth step 50. Transition.

In this tenth step 50, the CPU 20 sets a shelf number in the part where the status content in FIG. Print processing is performed on

Next, in an eleventh step 51, the CPU 20 determines whether or not the registration process for all shelves of the video rental apparatus l has been completed.If the registration process has not been completed, the process returns to the first step 41; The process moves to the twelfth step 52.

At this twelfth step 52, the CPU 20 discharges the receipt that has been printed in advance at the sixth step 46 and the tenth step 50 from the receipt discharge port 13, and ends the series of registration processing.

Next, the seventh step 3 in the main routine of FIG.
The operation of the confirmation process No. 7 will be explained with reference to the subroutine of FIG.

In a first step 61, the CPU 20 searches the RAM 21 for the slot of the cassette loading data file (see FIG. 4).

Next, in a second step 62, the CPU 20 drives and controls the cassette loading/unloading device 18 to execute a shelf check corresponding to the above-mentioned slot.

Next, in a third step 63, the CPU 20 determines whether or not a video cassette is recorded on the shelf corresponding to the above-mentioned slot based on the output of the sensor 22 of the cassette loading/unloading device 18. The process moves to step 64, and in this fourth step 64, the CPU 20 prints the cassette that requires reinsertion on the receipt, and also prints the cassette that requires reinsertion on the receipt.
The process moves to step 65.

In this fifth step 65, the CPU 20 drives and controls the barcode reader 23 of the cassette loading/unloading device 18 to read barcode information from the barcode of the video cassette present in the storage shelf.

Next, in a sixth step 66, the CPU 20 determines whether the read barcode information matches the information in the cassette loading data file of the corresponding slot, and if they match, the process moves to the next seventh step 67. On the other hand, if they do not match, the process moves to another eighth step 68.

In this eighth step 68, the CPU 20 prints the cassette that needs to be extracted on the receipt in response to the barcode mismatch.

Furthermore, in the seventh step 67 described above, the CPU 20 determines whether all the confirmation processes for the "Touroku" slot have been completed. The process moves to step 69.

At this ninth step 69, the CPU 20 discharges the receipt, which has been printed in advance at the fourth step 64 and the eighth step 68, from the receipt discharge port 13, and ends the series of confirmation processing.

After video cassettes are manually loaded into a large number of storage shelves in this way, in a second step 42 in FIG. After reading the barcode of the video cassette in the storage shelf, the barcode information read in the next fifth step 45 is compared with the cassette loading data file (see FIG. 4) stored in advance in the RAM 21. Since the registration process is executed in the next seventh step 47 based on the matching output, the following effects are obtained.

That is, it becomes possible for an attendant to manually load video cassettes into a large number of storage shelves for the first time, which has the effect of significantly shortening loading time and improving loading efficiency.

Moreover, it automatically detects and determines whether or not the loading by the above-mentioned staff member is correct, and allows lending of a video cassette only when a predetermined rental item, that is, a video cassette, is correctly stored at a predetermined position on the storage shelf. Since the registration process is executed, data corresponding to unregistered items can be printed out, and storage errors can be confirmed and corrected before lending the video cassette.
This has the effect of improving lending serviceability and eliminating time loss during lending.

In terms of the correspondence between the structure of this invention and the above-described embodiments, the rental article of the present invention corresponds to the video cassette of the embodiment, and similarly, the article rental machine corresponds to the video rental device 18, and the article rental device corresponds to the video rental device 18. The loading means corresponds to the cassette loading/unloading device Nl8, the detection means corresponds to the sensor 22 and the second step 42 controlled by the CPU 20, and the unique information of the rental item corresponds to the barcode information of the video cassette. The reading means corresponds to the barcode reader 23 and the third step 43 controlled by the CPU 20, the loading data corresponds to the cassette loading data file shown in FIG. 4, and the storage means corresponds to the RAM 21 and the second step 43 controlled by the CPU 20. The comparison means corresponds to step 32, the comparison means corresponds to the fifth step 45 controlled by the CPU 20, and the registration means corresponds to the seventh step 47 controlled by the CPU 20. However, the present invention is limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment. It is not something that will be done.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 is a front view of a video rental device, Fig. 2 is a control circuit block diagram of the device, Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a memory card, and Fig. 4 is a diagram of a RAM. FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart, FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing registration processing, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing confirmation processing. 1...Video rental device 18...Cassette loading/unloading device 20...CPU 21...RAM 22...Sensor 23...Barcode league 32...Second step (storage means) 42. ...Second step 43...Third step 45...Fifth step 47...Seventh step (detection means) (reading means) (comparison means) (registration means) Figure 32 of the data file of the data file.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A plurality of storage shelves that store a plurality of rental items; Rental items are stored on these multiple storage shelves. Article loading and unloading means that automatically controls loading and unloading An article lending machine comprising: Each of the above items is collected after the rental items are manually loaded. Detects whether rental items are stored in a cupboard detection means for Read the unique information of the rental items in the storage shelf. means of taking, Memory hand that memorizes the loading data of rental items step by step, The output of the above-mentioned reading means and the installation of the above-mentioned storage means. a comparison means for comparing the data with the filling data; Registration processing is performed based on the matching output of the above comparison means. registration means for carrying out the Item lending machine.