Vending machine accessory permitting dual mode machine operation with either money or coded cards
US4669596A · kind A · utility
159Cited by
14References
14Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 22, 1985 |
| Grant date | Jun 2, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 22, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07F9/00
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
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price of the item dispensed from the amount originally coded on the card, and encodes a new value on the card as it is withdrawn.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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.