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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 6595342 | Method and apparatus for a biometrically-secured self-service kiosk system for guaranteed product delivery and return An apparatus including a secure kiosk capable of containing products and a consumer access device to unlock and retrieve a product from the kiosk is disclosed.... | 07/22/2003 |
| 6502685 | Method and apparatus using verifiable data destruction procedure to initiate removal of supply chain transaction A method and system for implementing a secure return policy of supply chain for digitally stored products. The method and system verifies whether each product for return originated within the supply chain. If the product did originate within the supply ch... | 01/07/2003 |
| 5934439 | Automatic commercial article renting system An automatic renting apparatus performs on-line trade utilizing a credit card, which includes a processing mechanism for processing a rented article not returned after expiration of a returning period. The automatic article renting apparatus effects sale ... | 08/10/1999 |
| 5927544 | Vending machine for encased recording media A vending machine for selling encased recording media such as CDs comprises a control unit and a plurality of vending units connected in tandem. Each vending unit is comprised of holders for holding encased CDs. The encased CDs are held in a way that allo... | 07/27/1999 |
| 5699262 | Video rental processing system A method and apparatus are provided for automatically processing returned video cassettes to determine that the appropriate tape cartridges are matched with the appropriate cases, to assure that the tape cartridges are fully rewound, to check the video ca... | 12/16/1997 |
| 5523551 | Vending apparatus and system for automated dispensing of disks A vending apparatus and system for storing and automatically dispensing magnetic or optical disks. A user interface allows a user to enter a dispensing request corresponding to the selection of a desired disk and includes for receiving user identification... | 06/04/1996 |
| 5042686 | Device for dispensing goods and use thereof The device has a column-shaped housing (1) in which there is located a storage magazine (7) for goods (8) offered, a goods chute (2) for dispensing and depositing the goods, electromechanical means (9a-9c) for transporting the goods between storage magazi... | 08/27/1991 |
| 5007518 | Apparatus for renting articles An apparatus for rental of articles such as videocassettes comprises an outer housing, and a storage assembly within the housing having storage locations for storing a plurality of videocassettes. The housing has a front panel including an array of separa... | 04/16/1991 |
| 4997076 | Merchandise transaction machine and system with emergency operational modes A vending machine having an access port through which articles are delivered and returned in connection with keypad selected transactions performed by a robotic transporter programmed through a computer control system, is provided with an emergency storin... | 03/05/1991 |
| 4995498 | Rental and vending machine, particularly for video cassettes, and cassette case for video cassettes A hiring and vending slot-machine, in particular for video cassettes, has a cupboard-like housing, two superimposed storage compartments arranged within the housing for the boxes containing the video cassettes, a computer-controlled cassette transporting ... | 02/26/1991 |
| 4915205 | Apparatus for dispensing and receiving rented articles Machine for automatic rental of video cassettes. Cassettes are stored in a drum like magazine (32) and are made available at a dispensing slot (20, 22) after a user has identified himself by introducing a personal into a slot (12) and entered a unique per... | 04/10/1990 |
| 4903815 | Automatic vending machine and system for dispensing articles An article gripper is moved by a robotic transporter in two perpendicular directions within a transport plane between a reference location and ID code reading locations aligned with an access port and storage cells of storage assemblies mounted in doors c... | 02/27/1990 |
| 4893705 | Vending machine having plural compartments which are independently selected and controlled 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 dat... | 01/16/1990 |
| 4884212 | Apparatus and method for using unique charge cards dispensed from a vending machine A dispensing machine is accessed repeatedly by a card issued by the machine. The machine comprises storage bins for holding and dispensing a plurality of products. A memory unit is included for storing information including representations of credit infor... | 11/28/1989 |
| 4871054 | Vending machine A machine for renting articles, e.g. video cassettes, which stores individual articles in containers (26) from which they may be rented by the user and wherein an opto-electronic emitter and sensor cobination (55) is provided to sense whether an article i... | 10/03/1989 |
| 4839505 | Apparatus and method for storing and retrieving articles A machine from which a customer can selectably purchase or rent a videocassette or other such product, e.g., blank videotapes, music disks, and the like, or return a previously rented videocassette. The machine comprises videocassette storage device for s... | 06/13/1989 |
| 4821917 | Storage and dispensing means A storage and dispensing device is provided for use in a tape cassette dispensing machine. The device comprises a bin with side by side sliding compartments, each slidable to extend from one bid side to expose an open compartment side for insertion or rem... | 04/18/1989 |
| 4812629 | Method and apparatus for vending A video cassette vending machine has a plurality of storage positions which are not user-accessible and a vend position which is user-accessible. A carrier unit is provided for carrying a selected video cassette between one of the storage positons and the... | 03/14/1989 |
| 4789907 | Video cassette recording and/or viewing vending system A vending system which allows a customer to record a personal message on a blank video cassette tape or view and inserted prerecorded video cassette tape is disclosed. The system includes a payment detection mechanism, an activation means responsive to th... | 12/06/1988 |
| 4789054 | Vending machine for returnable cartridges Vending machine for vending re-usable articles, in response to patron's entering an identification code number, and depositing money. The articles are individually identified (films and video tapes) and of a value greater than the amount required for vend... | 12/06/1988 |
| 4735290 | System and method for displaying, vending and controlling inventory of valuable articles such as pre-recorded videotape cassettes In an area accessible to browsing customers, at least one multiple-compartment display rack is provided. Each cell in the display rack removably receives an open-ended transparent plastic envelope containing a display card preferably printed with photogra... | 04/05/1988 |
| 4734005 | Vending machine for video cassettes A machine for automatically dispensing a selected container from a store of containers and for automatically storing a container returned to the machine. The machine includes an array of storage bins arranged in a plurality of vertically-stacked, horizont... | 03/29/1988 |
| 4668150 | Vending machine for video cassettes A machine for automatically dispensing a selected container from a store of containers and for automatically storing a container returned to the machine. The machine includes an array of storage bins for storing a plurality of containers. Each bin has a b... | 05/26/1987 |
| 4654988 | Method for displaying the availabilty of videocassette films for rental A method for displaying the availability of videocassette films for rental including the following steps: producing indicating cards having indicia printed thereon identifying the films available for rental; positioning indicating cards for various videoc... | 04/07/1987 |
| 4654727 | Videocassette handling and sequencing system A tape cassette handling and sequencing system includes a large storage library having a plurality of storage bins and a cassette loading section for receiving cassettes to be stored in the storage bins. Tape transports are provided for playing cassettes ... | 03/31/1987 |
| 4647989 | Video cassette selection machine The disclosure being made by the Video Cassette Selection Machine is that of an automated library retrieval system of video tape cassettes combined with the additional features of a complete playback system which include: a cassette player, T.V. unit(s), ... | 03/03/1987 |
| 4598810 | Apparatus and method for vending and accepting return of re-usable articles A vending unit includes a plurality of cubicles each holding a TV film, dispensed in response to the manipulation by an identified patron. The patron has an identification code number, which upon being entered as information into the vending unit, energiz... | 07/08/1986 |
| 4593376 | System for vending program cartridges which have circuitry for inhibiting program usage after preset time interval expires A vending machine stores a plurality of video game programs which may be selected for purchase. The game program is transferred to a programmable cartridge which the user inserts into the machine. The programmable cartridge is then removed for use on a se... | 06/03/1986 |
| 4563120 | Device for storing and/or retrieving objects The device (1) consists of a carriage (10) which can move in front of a set of storage supports (2), with this carriage being movable along an upright (11) which is itself movable along cross members (25, 26) and carrying means (35) for moving the object ... | 01/07/1986 |
| 4494675 | Article dispensing machine with anti-theft structure A dispensing machine including a plurality of receptacles from which articles are released to fall into a receiving chamber. After movement along the chamber by a conveyor, the articles enter a delivery mechanism that moves them into alignment with an esc... | 01/22/1985 |
| 4458802 | Renting of articles and machine thereof A method of renting an article to a patron by the patron presenting a hire token to a renting machine for recognition and energizing of an article selection circuit; the article selection circuit being energized until stopped by the patron when a desired ... | 07/10/1984 |
| 4414467 | Vending ordering terminal A terminal is provided at which a user can selectively preview or order a videocassette. The terminal comprises customer identification means for receiving information relative to the user; mode selection means enabling the user to choose a preview or ord... | 11/08/1983 |
| 4384152 | Anthracene production from phenanthrene A method for production of anthracene from phenanthrene is disclosed. Phenanthrene is hydrogenated at a nickel on a carrier catalyst at temperatures from about 140° C. to 170° C. under a pressure of from about 10 to 30 bar by gradual addition of hydroge... | 05/17/1983 |
| 4300040 | Ordering terminal An ordering terminal for videocassette program material including a keyboard, credit card reader, TV monitor and speaker and display board. The user can order videocassette program material from the terminal and can preview proposed selection before order... | 11/10/1981 |
| 3947882 | Vending system for remotely accessible stored information A vending system includes a central station at which various information stored on master recordings can be selectively accessed by purchasers from any of multiple remote vending machines, the accessed information being reproduced on cartridge-type storag... | 03/30/1976 |
