Rental return method and apparatus

[0001] This invention relates to method of and apparatus for the return of rental items, such as videotapes.

[0002] The return of rental items of value, such as videotapes or library books, is ideally facilitated by face to face contact between the borrower of the item and a member of staff of the organization from whom the item was borrowed. In this way there is confirmation of return of the item which gives peace of mind to both the borrower and the organization personnel. However, if return is to be allowed outside of normal working hours then this type of face to face return is not cost effective. To date, for example with videotapes, this problem has been addressed by the use of an out of hours return box. This type of box tends to comprise a slot that is accessible by a borrower or user and a secure store that is not accessible by users. The slot and secure store are normally connected via a slide or chute so that returned items fall, safely and without damage, into the store.

[0003] However, problems may arise if there is a conflict between borrower and the store. For example, the borrower may allege that he or she returned an item using this out of hours box even if the item can not be found in the box. This may arise due to fraud, on the part of the borrower, the lender's personnel or a third party. Such problems may also arise due to something as simple as the misplacement of the item after it was correctly returned by the borrower.

[0004] Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to overcome or at least mitigate the problems experienced by video stores and the like, as identified above.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a rental item return apparatus including an opening to receive returned rental items, a store area for returned items and a chute arranged to connect the opening to the store area; and a device arranged within the chute to uniquely identify and log each returned rental item.

[0006] Preferably, the apparatus includes a second chute arranged to redirect returned items back to the user for resubmission, if the scanner failed to uniquely identify the item.

[0007] Preferably, the device arranged within the chute to uniquely identify and log each returned rental item is a barcode scanner.

[0008] Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a scale arranged to weigh each returned retail item, to ensure that each item is of the correct weight. In one embodiment the scale is arranged to weigh returned video rental boxes, to ensure that the video rental boxes contain videos.

[0009] Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a second store area and a gate and a third chute arranged to divert items the weight of which falls outside of a predetermined weight range.

[0010] Preferably, the apparatus comprises a confirmation indicator arranged to inform the user that the item has been returned correctly. In one embodiment the confirmation indicator is a display screen.

[0011] Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a receipt printer.

[0012] According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of receiving returned items, utilizing an apparatus including an opening to receive returned rental items, a store area for returned items and a chute arranged to connect the opening to the store area; and a device arranged within the chute to uniquely identify and log each returned rental item, including the steps of:

[0013] a) scanning returned items as they slide down the chute past the scanner.

[0014] Preferably, the method includes the step of redirecting returned items back to the user for resubmission, if the scanner failed to uniquely identify the item.

[0015] Preferably, the method includes the step of weighing the returned retail item, to ensure that the item is of the correct weight.

[0016] Preferably, the method includes the step of diverting items, the weight of which falls outside of a predetermined weight range, to a second store area.

[0017] Preferably, the method includes the step of indicating to a user when the item has been correctly returned.

[0018] Preferably, the method includes the step of providing the user with a printed receipt.

[0019] It is an advantage of the present invention that as well as confirming return of items it also precludes the present need for store personnel to scan returned items of inventory manually, in order to maintain stock level or availability records.

[0020] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, and with reference to the drawings in which:

[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention; and

[0022] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a method of operation of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates a video rental return apparatus 10, in accordance with the present invention. The apparatus 10 includes an opening, in the form of a slot 12, and a store area 14 for returned videos. The slot 12 and store area 14 are connected via a chute 16. A scanner 18 is located within the chute 16 adjacent the base of the chute 16 to uniquely identify and log returned videos. The apparatus further includes an optional return chute 20 to return videos to the user, via a return slot 22, for resubmission, if the scanner failed to scan the video correctly. A gate 23 is hingably mounted so as to be movable into a position in which incorrectly scanned videos are diverted to the second chute 20.

[0024] A weighing scale 24 is located within the chute 16, in the path of the video; so as to weigh the returned video box to determine that the box contains a video. This is achieved by setting a predetermining weight range that correspond to a video and box.

[0025] In this embodiment the scale is pivotable between a first position 241 in which the scale weighs the incoming video, and a second position 242 in which the video is directed along the chute 16 to the store area.

[0026] In one embodiment the scale can pivot to a third position (not shown) in which the video is diverted via a further chute 26 to a second store area 28. Videos are thus diverted when their weight lies outside of the predetermined weight range, indicating that the video box does not contain a video.

[0027] The apparatus further includes both a screen 30 arranged to notify a user when a video has been accepted by the apparatus 10 and a receipt printer 32 arranged to provide the user with a printed receipt, when the video has been accepted by the apparatus.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the use of the apparatus of FIG. 1 to uniquely identify and log returned videos. Firstly, a user inserts a video into a slot 12 (box 20). The video then slides past a bar code scanner 18 and a barcode on the video box (not shown) is scanned (box 22). If the scan is not positive and the video can not be identified (box 24) then the video is diverted back to the user (box 26). However, if the scan is positive then the video is allowed to progress down the chute 1 to a scale 24 where the video is weighed (box 28). If the weight of the video lies within a predetermined acceptable range then the video is allowed to fall into a first storage area (box 30). However, if the weight of the video falls outside of the predetermined range then the video is diverted to a second storage area (box 32).

[0029] When the video is accepted a display screen 30 displays a message to that effect to the user (box 32). Finally, if requested by the user a receipt printer 32 will print a receipt for the user (box 32).

[0030] Modifications may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, incorrectly scanned videos or those that fall outside of the predetermined acceptable weight range may be stored in a single storage area with the remaining videos. Alternatively, they may be returned to the user and the receipt printer or display screen may be utilized to inform the user of the problem with the video being returned.