Abstract:
A method and apparatus for vending magic, pranks, and gags through a vending machine is described. Through use of a video display, a vending machine may demonstrate performance of a magic trick, prank, or gag, enticing customers to purchase items from the machine. A user interface is provided for selecting the item by its advertised indicia, and a method is provided to allow ordering catalogs or items through mail-order delivery. Further, a method is provided to demonstrate confidential performance information through video displays or secure web interfaces, in a manner that educates the purchaser but protects the secrecy of the magic trick.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a stamp, a stamp molding machine and a vending machine provided with the machine, which may mold a predetermined image or character on a non-molded stamp selected by a user. For this purpose, the stamp molding machine molds a predetermined image on a film by using a printer unit and then molds a non-molded stamp with the image printed on the film by using a molding unit. The stamp molding machine includes at least two stamp receiving members in which non-molded stamps are separately received according to shapes thereof; and a stamp supply unit for extracting a selected one of the non-molded stamps and then supplying the selected non-molded stamp to the molding unit.
Abstract:
Dispositif d'affranchissement de colis qui comporte une pluralité de coffres (2) munis de portes (3), une unité de gestion (11), des verrous (4) adaptés pour verrouiller chacun une porte et commandés individuellement, des détecteur de position (5) des portes qui sont adaptés pour informer l'unité de gestion d'une position fermée, un capteur de poids (9a, 9b) adapté pour transmettre à l'unité de gestion une indication du poids d'un colis placé dans un coffre, et des moyens d'entrée de données (14). Quand un détecteur de position (5) d'une porte d'un coffre détecte une position fermée, l'unité de gestion (11) est adaptée pour : calculer d'un prix d'affranchissement d'un colis placé dans ce coffre à partir des données fournies et de l'indication de poids du colis ; commander le verrouillage de la porte ; et maintenir la porte verrouillée jusqu'à la reconnaissance d'un code de récupération de colis.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a painting holder, a painting holder feeding unit, a printer unit having the holder and feeding unit, and an art painting apparatus with such a printer unit for automatic vending machines. The painting holder consists of a housing connected to a bracket of a feeding unit, a spring-biased finger base movably set within the housing so as to be elastically biased upward in the housing, a locking member hinged to the right-hand sidewall of the housing, and normally biased in a direction by a first torsion coil spring, and a finger cover hinged to the left-hand sidewall of the housing, and biased in a direction by a second torsion coil spring. The finger cover also has a painting opening at a predetermined position thereof, and is locked by the locking member. The art painting apparatus has a high resolution of not less than 1,200 dpi, thus accomplishing a highly active and clear painting effect. The apparatus also has a simple construction, thereby reducing its production and maintenance cost. This apparatus easily and effectively paints a variety of letters, pictures, patterns, or personally designed characters on desired surfaces, such as users fingernails, faces or arms, or the covers of books or pens, as desired, and thereby allows the users to express their personalities through the painting.
Abstract:
A CD (121) containing still images, video, audio, or data files unique to a person is created and packaged in a postcard-like medium (125), greeting card (125), or the like. The card (125) is printed upon with a personalized image derived from the stored files or selected from an appropriate library of images.
Abstract:
A method for decoding auxiliary data from media signals in multimedia content decodes watermarks (40 and 42) from different media signals (44 and 46) and uses the watermarks to control processing of the multimedia content (58). A copy control method decodes a watermark from one of the media signals in multimedia content, and uses the watermark to control processing of the multimedia content. Another method uses a watermark decoded from a media signal to decode metadata associated with the media signal. Finaly, another method forms a key for decoding data from at least first and second watermarks extracted from first and second media signals.
Abstract:
Physical or electronic objects are encoded with identifiers, which serve to trigger object-appropriate responses from computer systems that encounter such objects. The encoding may be steganographic (e.g., by digital watermarks), so the presence of such identifiers is not evident to persons encountering the objects. An exemplary application is a computer system that looks at a printed magazine advertisement (20) and initiates a link to a corresponding internet page. In one such implementation, the computer system senses an identifer encoded in the advertisement, forwards the identifier to a remote database, receives from the database (17) a corresponding internet address (18a, 18b, 18c), and directs a browser to that address (18a, 18b, 18c). The same arrangement can be used for on-line ordering from printed merchandise catalogs. Another application is a computer system that looks at a printed spreadsheet (20), and retrieves from disk storage an electonic version of the same document for editing.
Abstract:
A card vending machine for vending a card used for a play, such as the cards, the Japanese traditional cards, or the tarot, according to the interest of the user, combines an image (300) formed by imaging an object (especially the user) with images (100a to 100d), such as a mark and a number of the cards and vends the synthsized image as a card.
Abstract:
A device for personalizing and dispensing medals, characterized in that said device is configured around a central unit (10) that manages means (60) of payment, means providing a supply of medals (40), personalizing means (20,50), means (70) delivering a personalized medal (42) and visualizing means (31) that are associated with a touch screen (31), whereby management of the visualizing means (31) and the touch screen (30) is performed by an operating system interface program reacting to the actions of a user on the touch screen (30) in order to trigger the view of a dialog window on the visualizing means (31), actuate the personalizing means (20,50) according to the actions of a user or to select one of several possible medals.