Patents by Inventor Jesse A. Ojala

Jesse A. Ojala has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Automated merchandise dispensing and retrieval system
    Patent number: 5159560
    Abstract: A system from which a customer may rent and return videocassettes. The system has a plurality of vending machines for dispensing and receiving videocassettes including a carousel rotated about a horizontal axis and having bins for storage of videocassettes and access doors for dispensing and receiving videocassettes. A computer controlled positioning system scans a barcode ring affixed to the carousel and an aperture detector counts the passage of apertures in a ring about the carousel for determining the position of the carousel. The control computer also maintains an inventory database which tracks inventory in the bins by scanning barcodes affixed to the each videocassette and viewable via an opening at each bin location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Inventors: William C. Newell, Jesse A. Ojala
  • Vending apparatus incorporating an improved closed loop positioning system
    Patent number: 5077462
    Abstract: This invention relates to the field of vending machines and more specifically to an improved method and means for detecting and correcting positioning errors in a vending machine. A carousel type dispensing apparatus is incorporated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Inventors: William C. Newell, Jesse A. Ojala