초록 ▼

A coin checker and card reader for use with a vending machine includes a housing having a coin slot and a separate card slot which merge into a chute that communicates with a first coin channel and a card channel. A coin inserted into the coin slot rolls through the chute into the first coin channel

A coin checker and card reader for use with a vending machine includes a housing having a coin slot and a separate card slot which merge into a chute that communicates with a first coin channel and a card channel. A coin inserted into the coin slot rolls through the chute into the first coin channel and passes sensors which determine whether the coin is accepted or rejected. A door is actuated to direct an accepted coin into a coin container through a second coin channel. A rejected coin is directed to a return tray through a third coin channel. A subscriber card with a memory inserted into the card slot is guided into the card channel to actuate a switch to activate a microprocessor for exchanging information with the subscriber card memory and processing a transaction. The microprocessor checks the data being exchanged to prevent loss of data should the card be removed before the transaction is completed and to vend an article only after valid data has been exchanged.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of exchanging information with a memory on a subscriber card used by a customer to pay for articles to be vended from a vending machine comprising the steps of: a. reading information stored in a memory on a subscriber card, the memory having first and second storage sectors; b. generating

A method of exchanging information with a memory on a subscriber card used by a customer to pay for articles to be vended from a vending machine comprising the steps of: a. reading information stored in a memory on a subscriber card, the memory having first and second storage sectors; b. generating transaction data representing a purchase of an article from a vending machine utilizing the information read from the memory; c. storing the transaction data in the second storage sector; d. checking whether the transaction dam stored in the second storage sector is coherent; e. copying the coherent transaction data from the second storage sector into the first storage sector; f. checking whether the transaction data stored in the first storage sector is coherent; and g. generating a release signal for vending the article from the vending machine when the transaction data stored in the first storage sector is coherent.