Registers – Systems controlled by data bearing records – Mechanized store
Patent
1998-06-24
2000-11-07
Frech, Karl D.
Registers
Systems controlled by data bearing records
Mechanized store
235380, G06K 1500
Patent
active
061423734
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a method for removing articles from a cabinet of the kind as defined by the preamble of claim 1, as well as to a cabinet for performing said method.
A variety of different kinds of cabinets or methods for removing articles from such cabinets is known which find application more particularly in hotel operations.
Thus, for example, simple refrigerator cabinets are installed in hotel rooms from which all articles therein can be removed after the refrigerator door has been opened. The disadvantage here, however, is that no means exist for immediately checking or invoicing articles removed from the refrigerator to the patron. In addition to this, restocking the refrigerator after the patron has checked out is highly personnel-intensive since the articles remaining need to be counted and the articles removed need to be restocked. Furthermore, it is to be feared with this kind of removal that not all articles removed are paid for; for instance, some articles may have been stolen or bottles of drinks refilled with tap water to sham a still full bottle.
Also known is a method for removing articles from the compartments of a cabinet comprising a large number of lockable single compartments. Each compartment door or article contained in the compartment is signalled electronically to a central invoicing system of the hotel. Thus, opening the locked compartment or vending an article is automatically booked in the invoicing system of the hotel for presentation to the patron on checking out.
The drawback here is that all refrigerator cabinets need to hooked up to the invoicing system which makes for high installation costs. In addition to this the space, required by such a cabinet is relatively large since it involves a large number of lockable single as well as just as many single doors, all of which in turn need to be fitted with sensors.
Disclosed by DE-OS 26 23 941 is a vending machine having locked, separate compartments, the locking mechanism of which can be released by insertion of a kind of credit card. When articles are removed, holes are punched at defined positions in the card by a puncher. Handing in this credit card informs personnel as to which compartments need to be restocked. However, the mechanical configuration of this machine is highly complicated.
Furthermore, a vending machine is disclosed by FR-A-2 620 842 in which information as to removed articles--in this case a video cassette--is stored in an electronic memory of the machine; although this system requires the customer to use an insertable storage medium, a kind of code card, this merely serves to document access authorization and contains, for example, a subscriber code.
DE-A-37 41 053 discloses a dispenser incorporating a slot for receiving a cheque card on which information as to a removed article, namely the price thereof, is stored until this amount is updated by the next cumulative amount.
In using the vending machine as it reads from U.S. Pat. No. 4,508,812 the customer enters an ID number either via the keypad provided for this purpose or with the aid of an ID card which, when desired by the customer, may also be personalized to prevent misuse of the card should it be lost. In addition, a variety of recordings relating to each customer, article or sale are made in a computer of this vending machine.
In conclusion, a method for removing articles from a cabinet in keeping with the preamble of claim 1 reads from U.S. Pat. No. 4,108,363. For this purpose a purchase card is inserted in a slot of a sales cabinet to gain access to the interior of the cabinet through a door. When this door is closed, information as to the removed articles is automatically memorized on the purchase card.
Apart from this, a "computor" is provided in this sales system which is connected to a weigher on which the items for sale are located in the cabinet. From the difference in weight of the items before and after removal the computor 21 is able to compute the sales weight and thus the sales price of the item concerned so that the correspond
REFERENCES:
patent: 4108363 (1978-08-01), Susumu
patent: 4508812 (1985-04-01), Brault
patent: 5147021 (1992-09-01), Maruyama et al.
patent: 5892211 (1999-04-01), Davis et al.
Chemcoat, Inc.
Frech Karl D.
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