Discount method and device for an automatic transaction machine
OwnerCraig A. Lewis, Mark J. Moruninventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A coin mechanism discount method and a discount device for an automatic transaction machine. The method and the discount device provide a way for a transaction machine to give discounts on selected vend items.
Claims70
A method for providing discounts for items in an automatic transaction machine comprising:
- validating cash or card and a discount means having an associated discount value;
- detecting a selection of an item or a group of items, each having a preset vending price;
- and
- discounting the vending price of the item or group of items according to the discount value.
The method of claim 1 further comprising:
- reading information off the discount means and updating information on the discount means during validation of the discount means, and returning the discount means for reuse.
The method of claim 21 further comprising reading the number of times the discount means was used to vend an item or a group of items off the discount means;
- and updating the number of times the discount means is used to vend an item of a group of items on the discount means.
An article comprising a computer-readable medium that stores computer-executable instructions for causing a computer system to:
- validate cash or card and a discount means having an associated discount value;
- detect a selection of an item or a group of items, each having a preset vending price;
- and
- discount the vending price of the item or group of items according to the discount value of the discount means.
A discount device for an automatic vending machine comprising:
- a validating means for validating a discount means having a discount value;
- a coin mechanism connected to the validating means, for converting the discount value into a signal and processing a preset vending price of a vend item or group of vend items and the discount value;
- and
- a control means connected to the coin mechanism, for receiving the signal from the coin mechanism and controlling the vending of the vend item or the group of vend items.
59 The discount device according to claim 49 wherein the printer is configured to print a coupon if no discount means is used to purchase the vend item.
A discount device for processing discounts on a vend item in a vending machine, causing to:
- process a discount means having a discount value as a phantom coin signal,
- discount the vend item according to the discount value associated with the phantom coin signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.