Article vending machine

A method of monitoring an article handling machine wherein articles bearing article identifying codes are transported between certain positions in response to activation of the machine by users having identification (ID) cards to be inserted into the machine and bearing user identifying codes, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing the machine with a code reader capable of reading said user and article codes,
• locating each user ID card inserted into the machine in a user code reading position,
• transporting each article between said certain positions through an article code reading position, and
• operating said code reader to read both the user code on a user ID card disposed in said user code reading position and the article code on an article disposed in sad article code reading position.

In a vending machine for differing articles each bearing an identifying code and operable in at least one of the following operating modes:

• (a) a vending mode involving vending a selected article to a machine user, and (b) a return mode involving receiving a returned article from a user, the combination comprising:
• storage means for containing the articles to be handled and including a storage bin for each article,
• a bin identifying code at each storage bin identifying the respective bin,
• means for associating each article and its respective storage bin including means for reading the bin code at each storage bin and the article code on the article in the respective bin, and control means for storing information representing each bin and its associated article,
• means for transporting articles between said storage means and a user accessible position which is accessible to machine users for at least one of the following purposes:
• (a) removal of vended articles from said accessible position, and (b) placement of returned articles in said accessible position, and
• means controlled by and responsive to information stored in said control means for actuating said transporting means to transport a selected article from its storage bin to said user accessible position during operation of the machine in said operating mode (a) and to transport a returned article from said user accessible position to its associated storage bin during machine operation in said operating mode (b).