초록 ▼

An accessory for permitting a vending machine to operate with either money or coded cards. The accessory is mounted to the outside of a vending machine and connected internally by means of an adapter electrically connected between the money handling unit and item dispensing unit of the vending machi

An accessory for permitting a vending machine to operate with either money or coded cards. The accessory is mounted to the outside of a vending machine and connected internally by means of an adapter electrically connected between the money handling unit and item dispensing unit of the vending machine. The accessory reads the credit value coded on the card, compares the same with the price of the item selected, actuates the item dispenser, deducts the price of the item dispensed from the amount originally coded on the card, and encodes a new value on the card as it is withdrawn. Other features are also disclosed.

대표청구항 ▼

In combination with a pre-existing vending machine having walls defining a housing containing therewithin means for handling money and producing an electrical output signal in response to received money, electrically actuated means responsive to said output signal for dispensing a selected item from

In combination with a pre-existing vending machine having walls defining a housing containing therewithin means for handling money and producing an electrical output signal in response to received money, electrically actuated means responsive to said output signal for dispensing a selected item from the machine, and mating plug and socket means providing a releasable electrical connection coupling said money handling and item dispensing means, an accessory retrofitted to said vending machine for permitting use of either money or a coded card to vend an item from the machine comprising: a separate card handling means mounted in retrofit relation to a wall of said machine housing for receiving a coded card carrying machine readable stored data thereon, and in response to predetermined coded data, producing a data generated output signal for actuating said item dispensing means; cable means connected to said card handling means for receiving said data generated output signal therefrom, said cable means extending between said card handling means on said housing wall and said plug and socket means in the interior thereof; and adapter means carried by and electrically connected to said cable means for releasably matingly engaging said vending machine plug and socket means in said housing and thereby electrically coupling said card handling means to said money handling means and said item dispensing means for permitting said data generated output signal from said card handling means to actuate said item dispensing means; whereby a pre-existing money operated vending machine may be field retrofitted readily to operate either with money or with a coded card.