GB2185342A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A vending machine comprises a model of a creature 8 in order to attract attention, a receptacle 2 for the goods of the machine, a coin, token or the like actuating mechanism 3 and delivery means 4 for presenting the goods after the insertion of money, token or the like into the actuating means. The machine has at least one sound storage and reproduction means, such as a tape recorder, for giving an impression that sounds are uttered by the model of the creature and for recording the speech of the user in order to use it in connection with the sound apparently uttering from the creature. In addition, the machine has control means for controlling the functions of the storage and reproduction means, the model and the goods delivery means. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vending machine The present invention relates to a vending machine to be used in marketing goods and amusing the public.

Vending machines including an animated creature, such as an animal figure, are known. The figure can be caused apparently to utter a few words, by inserting money or a token into the machine, whereupon it delivers, in addition, for example, a prize or purchase to the user. The functioning ofthe device is very simple, and thus the interest in it decreases rapidly afterthe device has been used for only a few times.

The object ofthe invention is provide a versatile vending machine which maintains interest and amuses the user.

The vending machine ofthe invention includes a model of the creature, i.e. a figure. It can portray an animal, for example a parrot, a known person orjust a human shape in general, or it can be afantasy creature, for example, a creature from outer space. In addition, the machine includes a receptacle which contains the goods which are dispensed to the user ofthe machine. The machine includes also a coin, token or the like actuating mechanism as well as delivery means which function to dispense or deliver goods to the user after the user has inserted money, tokens or the like into the actuating means.Thevending machine according to the invention is characterised in that it includes at least one sound storage and reproduction means adapted to afford an impressionthatsounds are uttered bythemodel of the creature, and to record the speech of a userto enable it to be reproduced in connection with the sound uttering of the creature,the machine having control means for controlling the functions of the storage and reproduction means, the model goods delivery means.

The vending machine receives the necessary guidance and control signals from all or a group ofthe following sources: coin, token or like actuating means, a clockwork mechanism, the goods delivery means, the storage and reproduction means and the tapes used in them, a switch and sensors in oroutside the machine.

The sound storage and reproduction means, used in the machine ofthe invention, operates in one embodiment of the invention by magnetic tapes and is, for example, a cassette tape recorder and player.

However, the storage and reproduction means can be any other device which is suitable for storing and reproducingsound.Amicrophone, builtintothe machine, is used in recording the sound. The machine may give the user a signal indicating when the microphone is in operation. The signal can be either a sound or light signal, and the machine can also include a sound recording switch by which the correcttiming of the sound recording is ensured.

In one advantageous application ofthe invention a sound synthesizer is used as the sound storage and reproduction means. The recorded voice of the user is analysed and stored into the memory of the device in a digital form, i.e. samples of the voice aretaken, for example 30,000 samples in 1 second, and these are registered in the memory. If a better quality voice is desiredthe numberofsamples persecond can be increased significantly. The other messages are stored by the same method into the memory of the machine. The other messages are used in conjunction with the user's stored voice in order to express the sound apparently uttering from the model.Due to the meritofthedigital sound storage, the reproduction speed can be readily adjusted and in a stepless manner, whereby the pitch ofthe sound can be adjusted to the desired level in the various places, in which the vending machine is used. Anotheradvan- tage resulting from this is the good quality of three produced sound as digitally stored sound does not deteriorate in usage.

Preferably the model of the creature includes at least one motor, conveniently more than one. The motors may be adapted to move the creature, or various parts of it, either at various time intervals by clockworkorat leastwhen money, token or the like has been inserted into the actuating means ofthe machine.

In one useful form of the invention the soundstorage and reproduction means includes three separate storage and reproduction untis one of which functions byclockworkand reproduces sounds atpredetermined time intervals according to a definite message stored on the tape. The second unit functions after money, tokens or the like has been inserted in the actuating means and repeats a standard message stored on the tape. The third unit includes a blank tape into which the user can store text which the machine uses as insertions in order to complete the message in the second unit in a suitable manner.

Afurtherform of the machine includes several sound reproduction means, whereby the used messages and slogans can be used in a versatile manner always according to the prevailing need. When using a sound synthesizer it is possible to replace several sound storage and reproduction means by one synthesizer.

The advantage of the invention, with respect to known vending machines, isthat itcan be used ion a diversified manner in communication and marketing, and that due to the diversified and varied usage of the machine the user's interest towards the device does not decrease as quickly as in the case of the vending machines currently in use.

The words 'money' or 'coin' in this application are meantto be understood widely, so thatthey mean all kinds of money, coin, token coin or respective means with which the operation of a machine according to the invention is possible.

The invention will now be described further by way of example with referenceto the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one example of a vending machine according to the invention.

The vending machine shown in the drawing includes a base 6 upon which the receptacle 2 including the goods is supported. Abovethereceptacle isa cage structure 5 in which a model 8 of a parrot is mounted on a perch 7. Power units placed inside the model may be actuated in order to move the bill 9 andwings 10 ofthe model.

In addition, the machine, more specifically its base 6, includes a coin, token or like actuating mechanism 3 and delivery means 4 which present the goods from the receptacle as the machine is used. Likewise, the machine includes a microphone 11 and a switch/ press button 12 by which the user of the machine can record messages of his own choice to the machine.

In addition, the device includes tape recorders, preferably three ofthem, each ofwhich incorporates an endless tape. One ofthetape recorders is actuated at the predetermined time intervals by an inbuilt mechanism. The second is actuated by money tokens orthe like being inserted in the actuating mechanism, whilstthe third is actuated by means of the press button 12, in order to record the customer's speech. In addition,the device includes control means which control all the above-mentioned parts and functions ofthe machine in accordance with signals given by the recorder mechanism, the tapes and the actuating mechanism.

The recorders, mechanism and control means of the machine are located in a hollow space within base 6. One side of the base forms a cover that can be opened in orderto,for example, adjust and maintain the devices. In addition, this covercan be locked so that the actual users ofthe machine cannot gain accessto the devices mentioned above.

The vending machine shown in the drawing functions in the following manner. The control means ac tuates the first recorder, which may include some advertising matter, atvarious time intervals bythe aid of its associated mechanism. As the advertising matter is heard from the loud speaker ofthe machine, the power unit insidethe model 8 ofthe parrot moves the bill of the parrot as if the model was talking. In addition, the wings 10 ofthe model are moved according to the time intervals determined by the mechanism, and preferably in a manner independent of the sounds coming from the recorders.

As a coin, token or the like is inserted in the coinfeed mechanism means 3, advertising material of the first recorder, probably still continuing, is first allowed to complete its message and is then stopped at a control mark on the tape. Thereafter, the second recorder starts to operate and, for example, a voice asking the user's name can be heard from the tape of the second recorder. Then the user stores his name on the endless tape ofthethird recorder by pressing the button 12, which operates a light in the button, and by talking for a certain period of time, for example five seconds, whilst the light is lit, into the microphone 11.Afterwards, the additional text on the tape ofthe second recorder is heard from the loud speaker of the machine as if the model of the parrot is talking as its bill 9 opens according to the speech, and the control means inserts the text, given to the third tape recorder by the user, into suitable parts of the recording of the second tape.

The synchronization of the recordings on the tapes with respectto each other is arranged by using dualtracktapes, whereby the ending of each recording period on one track is marked by a control mark on the other trackfor giving a control pulse to the control means. In this manner, the control means controls the various recorders by using them in an alternating order, so thatthe machine gives the impression that the parrot is talking and repeating the words given to it by the user, that is, as if the parrot is talking with the user. As the control means receives a control pulse from the ending ofthe second tape it will actuate the delivery means so that goods are presented to the userfrom the receptacle 2.

In addition, the machine may include various sensors which function by heat radiation, photocells, sound, or, for example, as a result of vibrations, wherebythe machine may be actuated as people move at certain distances from it in its vicinity. Likewise the machine may include a transparent cover corresponding to the form ofthe cage structure, so that the machine can be used also outdoors.

An advantageous example of the presentinven- tion has been disclosed above. However, the example does not limit the invention in any way as otherforms, which come within the scope ofthe appended claims, are also possible.

Claims (10)

1. Avending machine which includes a model of a creature in order to attract attention, a receptacle forthegoodsto bedispensed,acoin,tokenorthe like actuating mechanism and means for delivering the goods afterthe insertion of money, tokens orthe like into the actuating mechanism, characterised in thatthe machine includes at least one sound storage and reproduction means adapted to afford an im pressionthatsounds are uttered bythemodelofthe creature and for recording the speech of a userto enableitto be reproduced in connectionwiththe sound uttering ofthe creature, and control means for controllingthefunctionsofthestorageand repro- duction means, the model and the goods delivery means.

2. Avending machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the or each sound storage and reproduction means is a tape recorder.

3. Avending machine as claimed in claim 2, including three tape recorders each of which embodies an endless tape, the control means being adapted to operate so that one ofthe recorders is actuated at certain time intervals to impart the impression that sounds are uttered by the model, another one ofthe recorders is operated by the insertion of money, tokens or the like, into the actuating means for giving the impression that sounds are uttered by the model, and the third recorder is for recording the customer's speech which is to be subsequently used in connection with the sounds apparently uttered by the model.

4. Avending machineasclaimedinclaim2or3, wherein the tape used in the or each recorder inclu des control charactersforgiving control pulses to the control means.

5. Avending machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the machine includes a sensor for detecting vibrational movement in the neighbourhood ofthe machine for actuating the machine.

6. Avending machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, including a cage structure which surroundsthe model.

7. Avending machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, including power units for moving parts of the model corresponding to the sound uttering of the machine.

8. Avending machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the model is that of a parrot and includes moving means forthe bill and wings of the parrot.

9. Avending machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the or each sound storage and reproduction means is a sound synthesizer, in which voices are analysed and stored into the memory of the device in a digital form.

10. Avending machine constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.