Automatic vending machine
AssigneeSanden Corporation
InventorKohei Ushikubo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic vending machine is disclosed that operates in response to a card inserted by a user. The card contains identification information which is used to access data stored in a memory device regarding the amount of money the user has credited to his account. If the account balance exceeds the purchase price of a desired item, the item is supplied to the user and the amount of the purchase is deducted from his account. A user may increase his account balance at any time by inserting money into the machine. Security is maintained through the use of a security code which the user inputs into the machine after the card is inserted.
Claims7
A vending machine for dispensing merchandise, said vending machine comprising:
- card reading means for reading identification information stored on a card inserted into the vending machine by a user of the machine;
- storage means for storing a credit balance of said user, said credit balance being accessed according to said identification information;
- comparison means for comparing the price of an item requested by the consumer with said credit balance;
- and
- dispensing means for dispensing an item to said user in response to a signal from said comparison means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.