CHECK-CONTROLLED VENDING

• US 3,845,470 A
• Filed: 02/08/1973
• Issued: 10/29/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James T. Schuller
• Original Assignee: James T. Schuller
• Inventors: Schuller, James T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US05/330,581
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 340/149A 179/2CA
• US Class Current: 235/381
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/12 Card verification

Abstract

A vending system and method employing so-called checks having information in coded format thereon. As disclosed herein, the checks are in sets, each check carrying a predetermined set identification code for identifying a respective one of the sets. Check-controlled vend apparatus of the system includes check receiver means receiving the checks to effect a vend operation, code reading provision for reading the set identification code of the received check, a set selection means for preselecting a set identification and selectively operable from a location accessible only to authorized personnel to permit a vend operation only in response to receiving a check carrying the preselected set identification code. Code-comparing provision compares the read set identification code with the preselected set identification. If the read set identification code compares correctly with the preselected set identification, a vend operation is effected by a vendor. A retention facility retains the received check upon the vend operation. The disclosure also teaches the provision of such checks carrying in addition a check identification code for identifying checks within each set and the use of a memory to store check identifications for comparison with the check identification code of a received check, thereby to prevent a vend operation if the check identification code of a received check is the same as that of a previously received check.

Claims

1. A vending system comprising a plurality of sets of checks, each of the sets having a plurality of checks each carrying a predetermined set identification code for identifying a respective one of the sets;

and check-controlled vend apparatus comprising means for receiving one of said checks to effect a vend operation, means for reading the set identification code of a received check, set selection means for preselecting a set identification and selectively operable from a location accessible only to authorized personnel to permit a vend operation only in response to receiving a check carrying the preselected set identification code, means for comparing the read set identification code with the preselected set identification, vend means, controlled by the comparing means, for effecting a vend operation if the read set identification code compares correctly with the preselected set identification, and means for retaining the received check if a vend operation is effected.

2. A vending system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for reading the set identification comprises means for magnetic reading of magnetically encoded characters on a received check.

3. A vending system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the magnetically encoded characters are in a binary code.

4. A vending system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said binary code is in a magnetic stripe format on a received check.

5. A vending system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said checks each carry also a check identification code for identifying the respective check within each set, each of the check identification codes of the checks in a respective set being different from any other check identification code of another card in the respective set, said check-controlled vend apparatus further comprising means for reading the check identification code of a received check, memory means for storing check identifications corresponding to check identification codes and responsive to the reading of the check identification code of a received check for effecting a vend operation, means for compaRing stored check identifications with check identification codes of received checks, and means, controlled by said comparing means, for preventing a vend operation if the check identification code of a received check is the same as the check identification code of a previously received check.

6. A vending system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said memory means is adapted to store all of the check identifications of checks of a set to be received, each stored check identification being cancelled in response to reading from a received check the check identification code corresponding to the stored check identification code, and wherein the last-said means for preventing a vend operation is adapted to prevent vend operation if the check identification code of a received check corresponds with a previously cancelled check identification.

7. A vending system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said checks each carry also a price code, said check-controlled vending apparatus further comprising means for reading the price code of a received check, means for comparing the read price code with a vend operation price, and means for preventing said vend operation if the read price code compares incorrectly with the vend price.

8. A vending system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said checks each carry also a vend location code, said check controlled vending apparatus further comprising means for reading the vend location code of a received check, means for comparing the read vend location code with a predetermined vend location, and means for preventing said vend operation if the preselected location and read location code compare incorrectly.

9. A vending system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for retaining the received check upon said operation comprises means for identifying a last-received check for inspection by authorized personnel whereby confusion of the last-received check with previously received checks is prevented.

10. A vending system as set forth in claim 9, said check-controlled vend apparatus further comprising a received check storage bin, said means for retaining identifying a last-received check comprising means for keeping the last-received check in an identification position and operative upon retention of a subsequently received check for moving the last-received check from the identification position to the bin.

11. A vending system comprising means for receiving a check, said check comprising one of a plurality of checks, each of the checks of said plurality carrying a check identification code, each check identification code being different from any other check identification code of another check of said plurality, means for reading the identification code of a received check, memory means for storing a plurality of check identifications corresponding to check identification codes of said plurality of checks, said memory means being responsive to the reading of the check identification code of a received check, means for comparing stored check identifications with check identification codes of received checks, and means, controlled by the comparing means, for effecting a vend operation if the check identification code only of a received check is not the same as the check identification code of a previously received check.

12. A vending system as set forth in claim 11 wherein said memory means is adapted to store all of the check identifications of checks to be received, each stored check identification being cancelled in response to reading from a received check the check identification code corresponding to the stored check identification code, and wherein the last-said means for preventing a vend operation is adapted to prevent vend operation if the check identification code of a received check corresponds with a previously cancelled check identification.

13. A vending system comprising means for receiving a check carrying an identification code, means for reading the identification code of a received check, means for eFfecting a vend operation if the identification code is correct, and means for retaining the received check if a vend operation is effected, said retaining means including means for retaining the last-received check for inspection by authorized personnel whereby confusion of the last-received check with the previously received checks is prevented.

14. A vending system as set forth in claim 13 further comprising a received check storage bin, said means for retaining a last-received check comprising means for keeping the last-received check in an identification position and operative upon retention of a subsequently received check for moving the last-received check from the identification position to the bin.

15. A method of vend control comprising receiving a check from one of a plurality of sets of checks, the checks each having a set identification code, electronically reading the set identification code of a received check, preselecting a set identification to permit a vend operation only in response to receiving a check carrying the set identification code corresponding to the preselected set identification, electronically comparing the read set identification code with the preselected set identification, initiating a vend operation if the read set identification code compares correctly with the preselected set identification, and retaining the received check if said vend operation is effected.

16. A method of vend control as set forth in claim 15 wherein said reading of the set identification code is effected by magnetic reading of binary coded characters.

17. A method of vend control as set forth in claim 15 further comprising electronically reading a price code on a received check, electronically comparing the read price code with a vend price, and inhibiting said vend operation if the read price code compares incorrectly with the vend price.

18. A method of vend control as set forth in claim 15 further comprising electronically reading a vend location on a received check, electronically comparing the read vend location code with a predetermined vend location, and inhibiting said vend operation if the read vend location code compares incorrectly with the predetermined location.

19. A method of vend control as set forth in claim 15 further comprising reading a check identification number on a received check, each of the checks of a set having a different check identification number, electronically storing a plurality of check identifications in a memory, erasing from the memory the check identification corresponding to the check identification number ready from a received check, electronically comparing the check identification code read from a subsequently received check with check identifications stored in said memory, and inhibiting said vending operation if a read check identification code does not compare correctly with one of the check identifications stored in said memory, whereby a vending operation is prevented if a received check carries a check identification code which is the same as that of a previously received check.