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A vending machine having promotional features, wherein a secured token is associated with a subset of all the items that can be vended, and validation of the token limits the items offered to the patron for his selection to only that subset of items. A first vending machine promotes a new product by

A vending machine having promotional features, wherein a secured token is associated with a subset of all the items that can be vended, and validation of the token limits the items offered to the patron for his selection to only that subset of items. A first vending machine promotes a new product by the manufacturer of the new product distributing secure promotional tokens good for a free vend or a discount on the price of the new product. In a second vending machine, products from multiple manufacturers are separately promoted using distinct secure promotional tokens for each brand. In a third vending machine providing a plurality of time-metered services, a secure promotional token provides only a limited economy subset of services for the patron's selection from among the plurality of services.

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What is claimed is: 1. A vending machine for dispensing food or beverage items comprising storage and vend actuation means for a plurality of food or beverage items, currency validation means for authenticating a patron's payment to provide credit toward the purchase of a food or beverage item, tok

What is claimed is: 1. A vending machine for dispensing food or beverage items comprising storage and vend actuation means for a plurality of food or beverage items, currency validation means for authenticating a patron's payment to provide credit toward the purchase of a food or beverage item, token validation means for authenticating a promotional token associated with a proper subset of the plurality of food or beverage items, wherein the promotional token has at least one security feature distinguishable by the token validation means for identifying it as an authentic promotional token, promotional logic means for limiting the offering of available food or beverage items to the union of the proper subset of items associated with the validated promotional token and the subset of all items for which the item's price has been met or exceeded by applicable accumulated credit, token management means for clearing all accumulated credit and item selection limits attributed to the validated promotional token if a patron selects and the machine vends an offered item which is not a member of the proper subset of items associated with the promotional token, item selection means for a patron to select from among the offered food or beverage items, and vending machine control means for receiving currency and token validation information, for performing promotional logic and token management procedures, for receiving item selection information, and for producing a vend control signal for the corresponding vend actuation means for delivering to the patron his selection. 2. The vending machine according to claim 1 wherein the token management means additionally disables validation of a subsequent promotional token if either the first promotional token or the subsequent promotional token have a value of one vend, or if the first and subsequent promotional tokens are the same. 3. The vending machine according to claim 1 wherein the token management means additionally clears all accumulated credit and item selection limits attributed to the validated promotional token after a predetermined period of time has elapsed without completing a vend, or since the most recent activity in the vending cycle. 4. Then vending machine according to claim 3 wherein a patron's activation of the coin return button causes the token management means to reduce the predetermined period of time by a predetermined amount or percentage. 5. A vending machine for dispensing food or beverage items comprising storage and vend actuation means for a plurality of food or beverage items, currency validation means for authenticating a patron's payment to provide credit toward the purchase of a food or beverage item, token validation means for authenticating a promotional token associated with a proper subset of the plurality of food or beverage items, wherein the promotional token has at least one security feature distinguishable by the token validation means for identifying it as an authentic promotional token, promotional logic means for limiting the offering of available food or beverage items to that of the proper subset of items associated with the validated promotional token, token management means for disabling validation of a subsequent promotional token if the proper subset of food or beverage items associated with the subsequent promotional token contains no items that are a member of the current subset of food or beverage items offered for selection, item selection means for a patron to select from among the offered food or beverage items, and vending machine control means for receiving currency and token validation information, for performing promotional logic and token management procedures, for receiving item selection information, and for producing a vend control signal for the corresponding vend actuation means for delivering to the patron his selection. 6. The vending machine according to claim 5 wherein the token management means additionally disables validation of a subsequent promotional token if either the first promotional token or the subsequent promotional token have a value of one vend, or if the first and subsequent promotional tokens are the same. 7. The vending machine according to claim 5 wherein the token management means additionally clears all accumulated credit and item selection limits attributed to the validated promotional token after a predetermined period of time has elapsed without completing a vend, or since the most recent activity in the vending cycle. 8. The vending machine according to claim 7 wherein a patron's activation of the coin return button causes the token management means to reduce the predetermined period of time by a predetermined amount or percentage. 9. A vending machine for dispensing food or beverage items comprising a storage and vend actuation means for a plurality of food or beverage items, a currency validation means for authenticating a patron's payment to provide credit toward the purchase of a food or beverage item, a token validation means for authenticating at least two different promotional tokens, each associated with vending a different proper subset of the plurality of food or beverage items, wherein each different promotional token has at least one different security feature distinguishable by the token validation means for identifying it as a distinct authentic promotional token, a promotional logic means for limiting the offering of available food or beverage items to that of the proper subset of items associated with the validated promotional token, a token management for disabling validation of a subsequent promotional token if the proper subset of food or beverage items associated with the subsequent promotional token contains no items that are a member of the current subset of food or beverage items to be offered for selection, an item selection means for a patron to select from among the offered food or beverage items, and a vending machine control means for receiving currency and token validation information, for performing promotional logic and token management procedures, for receiving item selection information, and for producing a vend control signal for the corresponding vend actuation means for delivering to the patron his selection. 10. The vending machine according to claim 9 wherein the token management means additionally clears all accumulated credit and item selection limits attributed to the validated promotional token after a predetermined period of time has elapsed without completing a vend, or since the most recent activity in the vending cycle. 11. The vending machine according to claim 10 wherein a patron's activation of the coin return button causes the token management means to reduce the predetermined period of time by a predetermined amount or percentage. 12. A method of vending food or beverage items comprising the steps of providing a vending machine with a storage and vend actuation means for a plurality of food or beverage items, providing a patron with a promotional token having at least one machine readable security feature to identify it as an authentic promotional token, associating the promotional token with a proper subset of the plurality of food or beverage items, machine-validating a patron's promotional token, machine-validating a patron's currency if additional credit value toward the purchase of a food or beverage item is required, limiting the offering of available food or beverage items to the union of the proper subset of items associated with the validated promotional token and the subset of all items for which the item's price has been met or exceeded by applicable accumulated credit, selecting an item from among the offered food or beverage items, producing a vend control signal for the corresponding vend actuation means for delivering to the patron his selection if sufficient credit value has been accumulated to enable vending the selected item, and clearing all accumulated credit and item selection limits attributed to the validated promotional token if a patron selects and the machine vends an offered item which is not a member of the proper subset of items associated with the promotional token. 13. The method of vending food or beverage items according to claim 12 including the further step of indicating to the patron which subset of the displayed items are available for selection with the promotional token. 14. The method of vending food or beverage items according to claim 12 including the further step of disabling validation of a subsequent promotional token if either the first promotional token or the subsequent promotional token have a value of one vend. 15. The method of vending food or beverage items according to claim 12 including the further steps of determining that a predetermined period of time has elapsed without completing a vend, or since the most recent activity in the vending cycle, and clearing all accumulated credit and item selection limits attributed to the validated promotional token. 16. The method of vending food or beverage items according to claim 15 including the further steps of activating the coin return button, and reducing the predetermined period of time by a predetermined amount or percentage. 17. A method of vending food or beverage items comprising the steps of providing a vending machine with a storage and vend actuation means for a plurality of food or beverage items, providing a patron with a promotional token having at least one machine readable security feature to identify it as an authentic promotional token, associating the promotional token with a proper subset of the plurality of food or beverage items, machine-validating a patron's promotional token, machine-validating a patron's currency if additional credit value toward the purchase of a food or beverage item is required, limiting the offering of available food or beverage items to that of the proper subset of items associated with the validated promotional token, disabling validation of a subsequent promotional token if the proper subset of food or beverage items associated with the subsequent promotional token contains no items that are a member of the current subset of food or beverage items to be offered for selection, selecting an item from among the offered food or beverage items, and producing a vend control signal for the corresponding vend actuation means for delivering to the patron his selection if sufficient credit value has been accumulated to enable vending the selected item. 18. The method of vending food or beverage items according to claim 17 including the further step of indicating to the patron which subset of the displayed items are available for selection with the promotional token. 19. The method of vending food or beverage items according to claim 17 including the further step of disabling validation of a subsequent promotional token if either the first promotional token or the subsequent promotional token have a value of one vend. 20. The method of vending food or beverage items according to claim 17 including the further steps of determining that a predetermined period of time has elapsed without completing a vend, or since the most recent activity in the vending cycle, and clearing all accumulated credit and item selection limits attributed to the validated promotional token. 21. The method of vending food or beverage items according to claim 20 including the further steps of activating the coin return button, and reducing the predetermined period of time by a predetermined amount or percentage. 22. A method of vending food or beverage items comprising the steps of providing a vending machine with a storage and vend actuation means for a plurality of food or beverage items, providing a patron with, a first promotional token having at least one machine readable security feature to identify it as an authentic first promotional token, providing a patron with, a second promotional token having at least one machine readable security feature distinguishable from the first promotional token's security feature to identify it as an authentic second promotional token, associating the first promotional token with a first proper subset of the plurality of food or beverage items, associating the second promotional token with a second different proper subset of the plurality of food or beverage items, machine-validating a first promotional token, limiting the offering of available food or beverage items to that of the proper subset of items associated with the first promotional token, disabling subsequent validation of a second promotional token if the proper subset of food or beverage items associated with the second promotional token contains no items that are a member of the proper subset of items associated with the first promotional token, machine-validating a patron's currency if additional credit value toward the purchase of a food or beverage item is required, selecting an item from among the offered food or beverage items, and producing a vend control signal for the corresponding vend actuation means for delivering to the patron his selection if sufficient credit value has been accumulated to enable vending the selected item. 23. The method of vending food or beverage items according to claim 22 including the further step of indicating to the patron which subset of the displayed items are available for selection with at least one of the first and second promotional tokens. 24. The method of vending food or beverage items according to claim 22 including the further steps of determining that a predetermined period of time has elapsed without completing a vend, or since the most recent activity in the vending cycle, and clearing all accumulated credit and item selection limits attributed to the validated promotional token. 25. A vending machine for providing time-metered services to a patron comprising display-timer means for providing a time-metered output signal to enable one of a plurality of services, currency validation means for providing credit value towards vending a service, token validation means for authenticating a promotional token associated with a proper subset of the plurality of services, wherein the promotional token has at least one security feature distinguishable by the token validation means for identifying it as an authentic promotional token, promotional logic means included within the display-timer means for limiting the offering of available services to that of the proper subset of services, wherein membership of a service in the proper subset of services is automatically determined at least in part by its time/value ratio, or is a predetermined proper subset of the plurality of services, service selection means for a patron to select from among the offered services, and electromechanical means responsive to the selection means and to the time-metered output signal for delivering the selected service to the patron. 26. The vending machine according to claim 25 wherein the promotional logic means further removes all limits on the offering of available services if further credit value is provided by the currency validation means. 27. The vending machine according to claim 25 further including means for disabling validation of a second promotional token for a time interval during which a vended service is being provided. 28. A method of vending time-metered services to a patron comprising the steps of providing a patron with a promotional token having at least one machine readable security feature to identify it as an authentic promotional token, providing a display-timer having a time-metered output signal to enable one of a plurality services, associating the promotional token with a proper subset of the services wherein membership of a service in the proper subset of services is automatically determined at least in part by its time/value ratio, or is a predetermined proper subset of the plurality of services, machine-validating a patron's promotional token, limiting the offering of available services to that of the proper subset of services associated with the promotional token, indicating to the patron which subset of services are available for selection with the promotional token, selecting a service from among the offered services, and producing a time-metered output signal to enable an electromechanical means for delivering the selected service to the patron. 29. The method of vending time-metered services to a patron according to claim 28 including the further steps of machine-validating a patron's currency, credit card, or debit card to add additional credit value, and removing any limits on the offering of available services. 30. The method of vending time-metered services according to claim 28 including the further step of disabling validation of a second promotional token for a time interval during which a vended services is being provided. 31. A vending machine for dispensing product samples to a patron comprising a storage and vend actuation means for product samples having a plurality of brands, a token validation means for authenticating at least two different promotional tokens, each associated with vending a different proper subset of the plurality of brands, wherein each different promotional token has at least one different security feature distinguishable by the token validation means for identifying it as a distinct authentic promotional token, and wherein each different promotional token was provided to the patron in conjunction with a prior purchase of a specific product brand, a promotional logic means for limiting the offering of available product sample brands to that of the proper subset of brands associated with a validated promotional token and wherein membership of brands in the proper subset of brands does not include the specific product brand of the prior purchase by which the promotional token was acquired, an item selection means for selecting a product sample from among those offered, and a vending machine control means for receiving token validation information, for performing promotional logic procedures, for receiving item selection information, and for producing a vend control signal for the corresponding vend actuation means for delivering to the patron his selection. 32. A method of vending product samples to a patron comprising the steps of providing a vending machine with a storage and vend actuation means for product samples having a plurality of brands, providing a patron with a first promotional token having at least one machine readable security feature to identify it as an authentic first promotional token, providing a patron with a second promotional token having at least one machine readable security feature distinguishable from the first promotional token's security feature to identify it as an authentic second promotional token, associating the first promotional token with a first proper subset of the plurality of brands wherein the first promotional token was provided to the patron in conjunction with a prior purchase of a first specific product brand, and wherein membership of brands in a first proper subset of brands does not include the first specific product brand of the prior purchase by which the promotional token was acquired, associating the second promotional token with a second proper subset of the plurality of brands wherein the second promotional token was provided to the patron in conjunction with a prior purchase of a second specific product brand, and wherein membership of brands in a second proper subset of brands does not include the second specific product brand of the prior purchase by which the promotional token was acquired, machine-validating one of the first and second promotional tokens, limiting the offering of available product sample brands to that of the proper subset of brands associated with the validated promotional token, selecting a product sample from among those offered, and producing a vend control signal for the corresponding vend actuation means for delivering to the patron his selection. 33. A method of vending food or beverage items comprising the steps of providing a vending machine with a storage and vend actuation means for a plurality of food or beverage items, providing a patron with a promotional token having at least one machine readable security feature to identify it as an authentic promotional token, associating the promotional token with a subset of the plurality of food or beverage items, providing a coin changer having at least one of its coin tubes configured to dispense promotional tokens, machine-validating a patron's currency, credit card, or debit card to provide credit value toward the purchase of a food or beverage item, machine-validating a patron's promotional token to provide credit value toward the purchase of a food or beverage item, limiting the offering of available food or beverage items to the subset of all items for which the item's price has been met or exceeded by applicable accumulated credit, selecting an item from among the offered food or beverage items, producing a vend control signal for the corresponding vend actuation means for delivering to the patron his selection if sufficient credit value has been accumulated to enable vending the selected item, providing change to the patron in the amount of the difference between the accumulated credit value on the machine and the price of the vended item, and providing excess change to the patron, dispensed in promotional tokens, rounded to the denomination of a promotional token, and substantially proportional in value to a percentage of a) the total credit value accumulated and attributed to currency, credit card, or debit card, or b) the total excess credit value accumulated above the price of the vended item and attributed to currency, credit card, or debit card, or c) the price of the vended item.