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.

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.

Abstract: The envelope assembly comprises a rectangular front panel and a complementary back panel which together form an envelope for initial use in the delivery of an insert. First and second tear lines are formed across the two panels, respectively. The first tear line, formed across the front panel, is spaced inwardly from one side of the envelope a distance greater than the corresponding separation between the second tear line and the one side of the envelope. An insert formed within the envelope is secured between the front and back panels along said one side. By pinching the envelope and exerting a pulling force on it, from its opposite sides, the envelope can be burst. This separates the insert and a removable portion of the envelope along the first and second tear lines. The separation between the first and second tear lines exposes a portion of the back panel that extends outwardly from the first tear line.

Abstract: A lightweight portable utility billing apparatus is described for enabling a utility (private or public) meter reader to: (1) read utility meters of a number of utility customers on a selected route and obtain current meter value information from each customer; (2) record the current meter value information; (3) automatically calculate the customer utility charges; (4) print customer bills containing the calculated charges thereon; and (5) deliver the customer bills to the customer. The apparatus includes a single input/output magnetic tape for mass data storage and an electronic alterable read only memory (EAROM) for storing the utility rate tables. The EAROMS may be readily updated by the magnetic tape. A keyboard, display and impact printer are included as I/O devices with respect to a microprocessor controller that is programmed by an instructional control program stored in a nonvolatile read only memory.