Computer controlled system for vending personalized products

摘要

A machine for delivering a product which may be automatically personalized by a customer at the time of purchase is disclosed. The product may be selected from a plurality of different types of products which may communicate in a plurality of media such as print, braille, or audio or video tape. The machine stores base products which may be modified to communicate in a plurality of media. Product handling means effects a series of operations including transfer of a base product from storage. Electrically controllable modification means effects modification of the base product to produce a modified base product and electrically controllable delivery means effects delivery of the modified base product. An enclosure contains the storage and product handling means therewithin. The apparatus further comprises payment means operable by a customer on the outside of the enclosure to effect payment for a product and selection means operable by a customer on the outside of the enclosure to effect entry of control data which defines the customer's selection of the media form of the base product and modifications to be performed of the selected media form to define the desired final form of the personalized product to be delivered to the customer.