The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 09, 2003
Filed:
Oct. 26, 2001
Yoichi Wakai, Suwa, JP;
Satoshi Nebashi, Suwa, JP;
Yasuhiro Nomura, Suwa, JP;
Yoshiiku Sendai, Suwa, JP;
Tetsuo Yamagishi, Suwa, JP;
Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An information medium collecting unit receives and collects information media to be recycled. An inspection unit inspects the information media collected at the information medium collecting unit. An electronic-data recording unit transfers and records electronic data stored in a storage unit onto the information media that are determined to be recyclable as a result of the inspection. A product holding unit holds the information media on which the electronic data is recorded. A product discharging unit discharges the information media held in the product holding unit, in accordance with a distribution request. Since the information media collected at a vending machine are processed inside of the vending machine for recycling and are turned into products inside of the vending machine for direct sale, information media to be discarded are reduced and thus cost to customers to obtain information can be reduced.