WO2000042580A1 - Device to be applied to vendor machines - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention comprises a new and novel value and credit receiving device installed in vendor machines, which dispenses products such as: soft drinks, beer, fruit juices, toasts, morsels and the like, by means of an electronic reading device which checks the amount of credits held in the magnetic band on a card for that end. The card is programmed with one to any number of credits, causing the vendor machine equipped with the novel magnetic card reading device, to dispense the product according to the amount desired by the user.

Description

Title: "DEVICE TO BE APPLIED TO VENDOR MACHINES" DISCLOSURE OF THE PATENT This invention comprises a new and novel value and credit receiving device installed in vendor machines, which dispenses products such as: soft drinks, beer, fruit juices, toasts, morsels and the like, by means of an electronic reading device which checks the amount of credits held in the magnetic band on a card for that end. The card is programmed with one to any number of credits, causing the vendor machine equipped with the novel magnetic card reading device, to dispense the product according to the amount desired by the user. The present invention aims at making it easier to use vendor machines which sells consumable products such as cigarettes, beverages, foodstuffs and the like, through an electronic reading device which performs the credits identification in accordance to the programmed amount of credits needed for the acquisition of each product on sale. The user must buy a card with a given number of credits. And when the user wishes to get a product sold by a vendor machine, he or she introduces the card in the device external slot, automatically activating the electronic reader, which reads the amount of credits included in the card magnetic band at the same time the software installed in the machine computing unit, checks the number and kind of the desired product according to the key pressed by the user. Just as soon as this information is received by the monitoring unit the product retaining finger is released and the desired product slides down a chute to the point where the user picks it up. Before the card is removed from the slot it has its credits updated, and the amount incurred in that operation debited. The corresponding data will be recorder in the card magnetic band. For more safety and different controls, each card may be recorded with information corresponding to each credit used, which machine used through its register number, the amount and kind of the acquired product, date and time. These information can be read by sliding the card through a reading terminal and it can also be, optionally, printed both for the user's own interest, the vendor machine lessor, product manufacturers and so on. Such control allows the vendor machines to be let and the product they sell offered on a consignment basis, there being no doubts as to sales control and inventory, since the device under discussion will also have a memory bank to store data on the vendor machine use and operation. It might be adapted with an external cable linked to a microcomputer or a reading terminal, sending data to be read and printed later on. Thus, countless drawbacks can be done away with, among these are: lack of small change, so the user can operate the vendor machines, non availability of chips to use with the conventional machines, lack of the user's control and of the very machine among others. This is an electronic device which can easily be installed in the conventional vendor machines. There is no damage to the existing market and the cost is not altered substantially. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PATENT The "DEVICE TO BE APPLIED TO VENDOR MACHINES" , now under discussion features an internal product magnetic card (2) reading unit (1) installed in vendor machines (3), with a software (4) which runs the machine operations (3), releasing the kind and amount of products (P) in response to the function key (5) pressed, storing the machine and each operation data in its memory (6) which can be driven by means of an external cable connection (7) to a microcomputer (8) or reading terminal (9) for checking and printing (10) the magnetic card (2) also has so many numbers of credits (11) the electronic reading of which will occur when said card is introduced in the device slot (12) automatically activating the reading unit (1) which reads the amount of credits recorded in the card magnetic band (2A) send the data to the software (4) at the central processing unit (13) that releases the product (P) retaining finger (14) causing the product to slide down a chute (15). The magnetic card (2) has its data automatically update, and the operation credit amount debited (2B) marking the machine registration number (16) the mount (16A), kind of product acquired by the user (16B), date (16C) and time (16D) for data reading in a terminal (9) or microcomputer (8). Evidently, there will be conceived innumerable models of the device under discussion here, with different forms, size, colors and materials, however, the aim of the present idea developed and now subject to the current requirement shall be preserved. In view of the advantages it offers and for being endowed with truly innovating features, the "DEVICE TO BE APPLIED TO VENDOR MACHINES" gathers the necessary conditions to be deserving of an Invention Patent Privilege.

Claims

CLAIMS 1st) "DEVICE TO BE APPLIED TO VENDOR MACHINES", is comprised of an internal device for the product magnetic card (2) reading unit (1) installed in vendor machines (3) , with a software (4) which runs the machine operations (3), releasing the kind and amount of products (P) in response to the function key (5) pressed, storing the machine and each operation data in its memory (6) which can be driven by means of an external cable connection (7) to a microcomputer (8) or reading terminal (9) for checking and printing (10) the magnetic card (2) also has so many numbers of credits (11) the electronic reading of which will occur when said card is introduced in the device slot (12) automatically activating the reading unit (1) which reads the amount of credits recorded in the card magnetic band (2A) send the data to the software (4) at the central processing unit (13) that releases the product (P) retaining finger (14) causing the product to slide down a chute (15). 2) "DEVICE TO BE APPLIED TO VENDOR MACHINES", as per the claim one, featuring a magnetic card (2) has its data automatically update, and the operation credit amount debited (2B) marking the machine registration number (16) the mount (16A), kind of product acquired by the user (16B), date (16C) and time (16D) for data reading in a terminal (9) or microcomputer (8).