U.S. patent number 3,872,438 [Application Number 05/357,509] was granted by the patent office on 1975-03-18 for credit card and credit card identification system for automatic vending equipment.
Invention is credited to William E. Cuttill, Vilma M. Wagner.
United States Patent |
3,872,438 |
Cuttill , et al. |
March 18, 1975 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Credit card and credit card identification system for automatic
vending equipment
Abstract
The system is used to enable the operation of automatic vending
equipment without requiring the attention of sales personnel. A
special credit card construction is employed with the credit card
precoded in binary code representing several digits and with a
locator indicator to insure that the card is correctly positioned
when inserted in the console or read-out station. The card coding
includes an arrangement of high dielectric constant discs and low
dielectric constant discs arranged in several bit groupings related
to a plurality of identification digits. On the cards, which are
preferably of the plastic material type, opaque conductive plastic
inserts are included over and above the first mentioned discs so
that the discs, their location and code arrangement, cannot be
readily ascertained. The read-out device includes key operated
switches for entering a second plurality of digits which are the
same as those first encoded on the card and known only to the
proper card holder. For example, the identifying digits may be the
last four numbers of his social security number or the like.
Responsive to the comparison and the coincidence of the code on the
card and the code entered by the purchaser, the vending equipment
is enabled so that the desired objects may be removed and a
totalizer and appropriate print-out means are then actuated to
total the amount of the purchases and then provide a printed bill
for the purchaser.
Inventors: |
Cuttill; William E. (Fenton,
MI), Wagner; Vilma M. (Flint, MI) |
Family
ID: |
23405930 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/357,509 |
Filed: |
May 4, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
235/381; 235/488;
340/5.9; 235/451 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F
7/1058 (20130101); G06K 5/00 (20130101); G07F
7/086 (20130101); G07F 7/10 (20130101); G07F
7/025 (20130101); G06Q 20/347 (20130101); G06K
7/081 (20130101); G06K 19/067 (20130101); G06Q
20/342 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G07F
7/00 (20060101); G07F 7/10 (20060101); G06K
19/067 (20060101); G06K 7/08 (20060101); G06K
5/00 (20060101); G07F 7/02 (20060101); G07F
7/08 (20060101); G06f 007/00 (); G11b 023/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;340/149A,149R
;235/61.7B,61.11H |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Yusko; Donald J.
Claims
1. A vending machine system for dispensing products to a purchaser
without the attendance continuous of sales personnel,
comprising:
a credit identification card;
a first plurality of indicia of relatively high dielectric constant
mounted in said card;
a second plurality of indicia of relatively low dielectric constant
mounted in said card in a predetermined pattern with said first
plurality;
means for sensing the electrical time constant characteristics of
said indicia and providing a binary code output representative
thereof;
means for manually selecting a digital code memorized and known by
the purchaser to be identical to the code represented by the
pattern on said card;
means for converting the digital code to a binary code;
means for comparing said two binary codes; and
enabling means responsive to coincidence between said two codes to
enable
2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for
presetting a binary code for comparison with said binary code of
said card comprises a digit key and a coder, said digit key
operable to initiate the operation of said coder to convert the
digit key setting to a binary code.
3. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein there is
included in the system a further compare error counter for summing
the number of times in which the code entered by the operator did
not coincide with the card code, said compare error counter
operable after attaining a predetermined
4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein a means is
operably connected in said system for locking said card against
withdrawal by the purchaser responsive to the counting of said
compare error counter to said
5. The combination as set forth in claim 3 in which a further means
is included in circuit with said system to prevent further counting
of the binary digit and binary compare error counters and to
inhibit the further
6. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein there is
included in the system a release solenoid for preventing card
removal by the operator, and in which a key operated switch is
required to provide final actuation of said solenoid and release of
the card.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A number of automatic vending equipment systems are known to the
prior art which are enabled in their operation through coins and
bills and a great number of systems, both mechanical, optical and
electrical, have been developed for identifying the currency and
then permitting operation of the vending equipment. Further, a few
additional systems have taken the further step forward to provide
systems in which the automatic vending equipment much more
conveniently is controlled by credit identification cards used by
the operator. One type of such system is shown in Goldenberg U.S.
Pat. No. 2,792,148 issued on May 14, 1957, in which a relatively
simple system is used with the credit cards having a magnetized
insert for identification and/or notches formed in the margin of
the card. This system, outside of requiring a signature by the
purchaser, did not make any provision against the purchaser having
fraudulently obtained and used the credit card issued to another.
An additional automatic vending apparatus operated by a credid card
means is shown and described in Harris Pat. No. Re. 25,254, issued
on Oct. 9, 1962. In that patent, the card incorporated a precoded
portion, including a distinguishing light pattern formed by a
photographic strip. In addition, there was described a system for
actuating microswitches by means of raised lettering or type on the
card. Here again, the system is deficient in that there is no
validating means or system for insuring that the card is being used
by a purchaser to whom the card was originally issued.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention will thus be seen to have provided an
advancement in automatic vending systems, both with respect to the
structure and fabrication of the credit card used in the system and
with respect to the validating electronic system which is actuated
by the card in such manner as to virtually insure against its
fraudulent use by another person.
With respect to the coded credit card, it is fabricated in such
manner that the card code incorporated in it cannot be readily
detected by one examining it. The card is constructed in such
manner that it is low-cost and durable.
The electronic system itself is relatively simple with respect to
its components and its manufacture and as it will be seen in the
accompanying specification, is constructed largely from integrated
circuits which are readily available, are easily assembled and
operate with a relatively low power consumption. The system is
practically "fool-proof" in its operation and includes a number of
features which lead to this result. For example, there is included
a start button system with insurance that the card has been
properly located in the read station under the lid for reading.
After proper location of the coded card, there is a lighted panel
provided which instructs the purchaser to select the first digit of
the code, with the first digit being known only to the purchaser
but not entered in a legible or visible fashion on the card. After
the purchaser has depressed and released the first digit button on
the keyboard, a further light instructs him to select the second
digit of the code known to him, and the process is continued
according to the present embodiment until the purchaser has
selected a total of four digits.
In the purchaser the ppurchaser has made an error in his selection
of the digits, a light signal informs him that he has selected the
wrong code and he is instructed to push the reset button and to
make a second selection of the code.
Actuation of the reset button permits the purchaser to make another
four digit selection on the keyboard. In the event the next code he
selects is likewise incorrect, he is permitted to push the reset
button and again attempt to enter the proper code from memory.
After a predetermined number of incorrect attempts, which may range
from one to seven according to the judgment of the vending machine
user, there is provided a "select first digit of code" light which
stays illuminated regardless of what the purchaser does and his
credit card is retained in place in the read station. In addition,
an alarm may be employed to call an attendant or perhaps even
actuate a police call. The card then would be retained in the
identification or read station in the console subject to release
only from a key-operated switch concealed from the purchaser.
If, as more often occurs, the purchaser selects the proper code
prior to the alarm and lock-out, when he releases the fourth digit
button, he will be informed by a further light signal that his code
was correct and the equipment is now conditioned so that he may
make his purchases. This signal also activates the vending
equipment and places it in a condition so that he may select and
remove the objects desired.
It will be appreciated that the system may be used for a great
number of types of vending equipment in which the individual
articles are separately priced and arranged perhaps in conveyorized
position for the purchaser. It likewise may be used for bulk
dispensing equipment, such as gasoline pumps, in which it is
possible to remove a predetermined amount of the fluid and provide
read-out for example through the rotary dial on the pump. As
another example, the customer may select a quart of oil for 65
cents, with this amount being entered in a down-counter. A clock,
associated with the system, may be used to count this counter to
zero while a second totalizing counter is counted-up by the 65
cents at the same time. After all of the items have been selected
by the purchaser, the amount finally registered in the totalizing
counter can be decoded and typed by printer means on the bill.
It will be appreciated that the billing process can be made much
more detailed by adding counters to add the number of items, by
storing programs in the print-out device to print the number and
description of the items purchased, and the like. In the interest
of simplification and brevity in this specification, complete and
detailed descriptions of such totalizing counters, read-out and
print-out systems will not be given since they are well known and
familiar to those skilled in the electronic computer and business
machine arts.
In the final operation of the system, when the purchaser has
completed all his purchases, he activates a "finished" button. This
will deactivate the vending equipment and initiate the billing
process, with the print-out as already described above. Once the
billing is complete, a further light will inform him and thank him
for his purchase. With the billing completed, the lid located on
the read station is released so that he can retrieve his credit
card and the completed printed bill.
It will thus be seen that by the present invention there has been
provided a greatly improved type of credit card, with a novel
coding system for identifying the purchaser user. The inserts used
are far superior to those known in the prior art, for example,
magnetic inserts, raised blocks on the card which are sensed by
mechanical sensing fingers, conductive ink which has a tendency to
wear off and change its conduction characteristics with aging, and
other like indicia which are easily detected. On the other hand,
the credit card constructed and fabricated in accordance with the
present invention is such that the capacitor disc inserts cannot be
readily detected by the average person and, even if the bits and
their arrangement are located, the code is not obvious from the
physical layout.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The attached drawings illustrate a system provided in accordance
with the present invention in which like numerals and letters are
used to identify like parts of the system where they may occur in
several different portions of the drawings, and in which:
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the purchase console and card read
station with parts broken away to illustrate the positioning of a
credit card constructed in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of a credit card incorporating the
present invention, particularly showing the binary coded portions
of the credit card;
FIG. 3 is a combined schematic and block diagrammatic showing of
the present invention, further showing the detail of the operative
code indicia incorporated in the credit card;
FIG. 4 and FIG. 4A represent a combined showing of a
resisitance-capacitance network timing diagram and monostable
multivibrator circuit showing a representative delay stage used in
connection with the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a schematic showing of a portion of the clock used in
connection with the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing showing the power supply used to
provide the various bias and operating voltages required in
connection with the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a block diagrammatic showing of the switch buffer stages
used in connection with the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a table used to show the terminal connection of the
counters used in the present invention; and
FIGS. 9 and 10 represent combined schematic and logic diagrammatic
showings of the logic system incorporated in the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With particular reference to FIG. 1, there is shown the control
switch and light indicator array which appear on the purchaser
console 20 used to control the credit card purchase operation and,
more particularly, the credit card identification and verification
system provided by the present invention. In the operation of the
system, the credit card indicated by the numeral 22 is placed in
position beneath a pivotable lid 24 in such manner that the card 22
has the binary bit information encoded on its upper margin properly
aligned in the reading station, while the positioning of the
locator bit LO is used to verify that the card 22 is positioned
properly in the read station before a vending cycle can be
initiated. Also included in the system and connected to the console
is an "alarm - too many errors" light 26, together with a card
release switch 28 which is positioned at the right hand edge of the
console 20. It will be understood that the card release switch 28
is key actuated, that is, places in a closed condition, only by the
use of a key by an attendant connected with the vending
establishment. This insures that should the purchaser fail to enter
the proper code on the digit keyboard 30, the card which the
purchaser probably procurred in a fraudulent manner cannot be
removed and taken away. The "alarm-too many errors" light or signal
26, which is preferably remotely located from the console is thus
used to summon an attendant or the police. Alternately, the vending
machine may be utilized in connection with multiple read stations
so that should one station be disabled by an attempted fraudulent
use and the card retained in it until the following business day,
additional reading stations will be available for others who desire
to operate the automatic vending equipment.
FIG. 2 is a partial showing of a credit card 22, particularly
indicating the arrangement of the preset code on the card, in the
present instance being a code for four different digits, each
represented by four different bits of the value indicated. Also
shown is the relative position of the locator bit LO, which
deterimines through an appropriate signal system later to be
described that the card has been properly positioned right-side-up
in the reading station. It is important to consider the type of
indicia which are used in the credit card 22 to provide the binary
code used in the system. It has been found that it is possible to
implant or encapsulate a plurality of discs 23 of high dielectric
constant between the upper and lower layers of the plastic normally
included in the laminated plastic credit card 22. The arrangement
and construction of the card will be further illustrated in greater
detail in FIG. 3 herinafter. The high dielectric constant disc 23
may be, for example, a ceramic insert. Additional discs 23a may be
provided in correspondence with the code which are elements of low
dielectric constant. Codes are thus provided on the card 22 in 17
different locations corresponding to the 16 bit locations indicated
in FIG. 2 and the locator disc LO which assures that the card 22 is
inserted properly aligned in the read station, As one alternate
embodiment of this invention, it is possible to have the card 22
itself of relatively low dielectric plastic material with the high
dielectric constant inserts 23 mounted in the card.
As will further be clarified in the FIG. 3 drawing, it is desirable
to include at the upper and lower sides of each of the discs 23 a
conductive opaque plastic disc 33 which has the function of
concealing the different disc inserts 23 or 23a in order that a
person examining the card cannot tell what pattern is incorporated
or what code is being used.
The basic principle on which the system operates is that the preset
different capacitance read-outs from the several coded bits on the
card 22 provide a reliable index for the read-out system. It will
further become apparent that the method of encapsulating the bit
material in the credit card 22 provides a long wearing and durable
type of credit card, which will be useable for thousands of cycles
of operation without showing appreciable wear or change in the
preset read-out signal levels.
The basic parts of the read-out system are shown in the FIG. 3
drawing and include a clock pulse source 36 which provides clock
pulses at a frequency of, for example, 50KHz, ranging in amplitude
from zero volts to a B+ voltage in a square waveform as indicated
on the drawing. The bits 23 of the credit card 22 are shown in
contact with the test probes 25 as they are positioned in the read
station at either side of the credit card 22. The bits in each case
are comprised of a pair of concealing opaque electrically
conductive plastic inserts 33 between which are positioned either a
high dielectric constant ceramic disc 23 or alternately a low
dielectric constant plastic insert 23a. A plus input signal is
passed through diodes 46, through signal resistor 48 to the base of
an NPN transistor 50 which comprises the input for a Schmitt
trigger stage 52 as illustrated.
The Schmitt trigger stage 52 includes a second NPN transistor 54.
The collectors of both the transistors 50 and 54 are connected to a
B+ voltage source through collector load resistors 56 and 58,
respectively. An RC network is connected between the collector of
the transistor 50 and the base of the transistor 54, which network
includes a parallel connected capacitor 60 and resistor 62. The two
output terminals of the Schmitt trigger stage 52 are labeled ST and
ST as illustrated.
In accordance with the logic system which will be further explained
hereinafter, the input to the Schmitt trigger stage 52 for any
paricular bit being sensed will go high to approximately the preset
plus voltage level and the Schmitt trigger output ST will go to
ground for the approximately ten microseconds that the clock output
is at ground. This is a condition which exists if the high
dielectric constant ceramic insert 23 is present in the bit being
sensed. On the other hand, if a plastic insert 23a is in the card
in the particular bit location, the ST output remains at a plus
voltage level.
The differences in output between the two Schmitt trigger outputs
ST and ST are generally quite distinct, but in order to make
certain that a difference between the two will be picked up there
is provided a time delay in the system called TC, one of which
stages is illustrated in FIG. 4. A table, as shown in FIG. 4a,
illustrates the four different time delays that have been
incorporated in the system, as follows: one, the TC or time
constant time delay which is of the order of five microseconds; the
time delays TD1 and TD2, which are associated with the comparison
circuitry later to be described; and the time delay PO, which
represents a print-out time delay which allows for a billing time
cycle to be accomplished by associated counters and print-outs used
in the system for bill printing.
In a representative system, the TC time delay is 5 microseconds,
the TD1 time delay is 100 microseconds, the TD2 time delay is 50
microseconds, and the print-out time delay, which, in the present
system, is simulating a billing print-out of approximately 25
seconds. In a particular application, this timer could activate the
billing device when the customer has completed his purchase. An
alternate approach could have the billing device actuated at the
time the vending equipment is energized - for example from D6 in
FIG. 10. If desirable, the billing time could be extended beyond
the vending cycle by this timer.
The operation of the TC timing circuit, as illustrated in FIG. 4,
is as follows: the two outputs of the delay stage indicated by the
numeral 64 are designated as "out" at the left hand side and "out"
at the right hand side. The input from the clock 36 is provided at
the input terminal 65 through a coupling capacitor 66 through diode
68 to the base of the transistor 70. A resistor 72 is connected
between the base of the transistor 70 and an appropriate B+ bias
voltage source. Load resistor 72 is connected between the collector
of the transistor 70 and ground, while a second resistor 76 and
ground. A resistor R is included in the circuit and a second
resistor 78 is connected to limit the base current of the
transistor 70 during the timing cycle. The delay is thus determined
by the discharge time constant from the capacitor 80 and the
resistor R.
FIG. 5 shows a representative clock used in the present invention
and previously shown in block form as the clock 36. The clock 36
includes a pair of transistors 84 and 86 connected in the astable
multivibrator mode with load resistors 85 and 87, respectively, and
with cross-coupling RC networks 88-90 and 92-94, respectively.
There are provided two outputs from the clock stage 36, namely: a
CL output of a frequency of 50 KHz and a further output from the
collector of the transistor 84 through a signal resistor 96 to the
base of an amplifier transistor stage 98 and to the output CL
terminal as shown. The output from the just mentioned CL terminal
serves as a control input to several circuits as are illustrated in
FIG. 5, 9 and 10 hereinafter. The primary function of the clock 36
is to provide a reliable square wave high frequency pulse train to
operate the card drivers.
FIG. 6 is the basic power supply system used to provide bias
voltages to the various clock, Schmitt trigger and card driver
circuits involved, and further to provide operating voltages for
certain of the solenoids and switches involved in the system. An AC
input 100 is included at the left side of the FIG. 6 drawing with
transformers 102 and 104. Derived from the secondary winding of the
transformer 102 is an unfiltered half-wave voltage for the light
stages. A filtered DC voltage is further provided from the
secondary of the transformer 102 to feed said release card switch
28 and to provide voltages to the start switch and to other push
button switches located on the operator's console 20. The secondary
of the transformer 104 is used to provide a filtered plus voltage
to the lid switch and additional plus voltages to the clock 36 and
to the logic circuits. Also included in the circuit of FIG. 6 are a
pair of transistors 105 and 107. A resistor 109 serves as the base
current limiting resistor for the transistor 107. A second current
limiting resistor 111 is connected in series with the lid release
solenoid. The transistor 107 is shunted by a protective zener diode
112. A resistor 114 is connected between the lid switch upper
contact and ground.
FIG. 7 shows the buffer stages associated with the "reset",
"start", "finished" and digit switches. The 13 purchaser's
switches, which are push button operated switches, are located on
the purchaser console 20. In each case the buffer stage includes a
pair of cross-connected NOR gates, and the output in each case is
referred to as a KO, KO, etc., and these actually refer to the
digit key selected by the purchaser from the keyboard before him on
the console. The manner in which the various key outputs are used
in the logic of the system will be further clarified in connection
with FIG. 9 hereinafter. It will be understood that the RTL NOR
gates and various other parts of the system referred to may be
embodied in the form of DTL or TTL integrated circuits, such as
those currently made and sold by a number of commercial
manufacturers. Likewise, the logic circuitry could be fabricated
from English, NAND or hybrid elements. The above types of logic
elements are offered by way of example and not by way of
limitation.
Reference is now made to FIG. 9 and 10. As previously indicated,
the present invention includes a counter with three stages BC1
through BC3, which is a binary digit counter, and a second counter
referred to as a binary error counter with stages BEC1 through
BEC3. The master control for the system is an asychronous
multivibrator L, shown in FIG. 9. Before the multivibrator L can be
set, the lid 24 over the credit card 22 must be lowered in place so
as to be detected by the lid switch 112 shown in FIG. 6. Once the
card 2 has been properly inserted in the read station, the locator
detector bit LO causes the output of the locator Schmitt trigger
LOC ST to go to ground level during the low half of the clock 36
output. Accordingly, when the start button is depressed, the L
flip-flop will be set if the card 22 was properly inserted. The TC
time delay circuit, as was shown in FIG. 4, is to prevent incorrect
operation if stray capacitance should operate the associated
Schmitt trigger for a short period. If the card 22 is incorrectly
positioned, the L flip-flop will remain reset, the CIP-RC light, as
shown in FIG. 1, will inform the purchaser to reinsert his card,
and the card release solenoid 110 of FIG. 6 will release the card.
Also shown in FIG. 9 is the circuitry for converting the digital
keyboard decimal inputs KO-K9 into a binary code for comparison
with the bit coding already present in the card.
FIG. 10 shows at its upper portion the circuitry used to apply
square wave pulses to the encoded incidia on the card. The four
drives are identified by numeral 40. A set of four bit sensing
flip-flops with outputs labeled BT1, BT2 through BT8, BT8 are
illustrated at the right side of the FIG. 9 drawing. The eight
different indicator lights previously shown on console 20 in FIG. 1
and the circuitry which actuates one or the other of these is shown
in the lower half portion of the FIG. 10 drawing.
DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION
In order to clarify the mode of operation of the system, a typical
operating procedure will now be described. At the beginning of the
cycle, the purchaser places his credit card 22 in the read station
and lowers the lid 24 over the credit card. The credit card, as
already indicated, has a section carrying raised alpha numeric
indicia which can be placed in alignment with a billhead to provide
necessary bill information. At the margin of the credit card 22,
the coded indicia 23 separated in bits representing four different
digits provide the verification data. In addition, there is the
additional locator bit LO at one side of the credit card to insure
proper alignment in the read station.
Once the lid is lowered, the lid switch 112 is made to provide
necessary operating voltages to the several clock, Schmitt trigger
and following stages in the system. The purchaser next depresses
the start button on the console. The start button sets the
flip-flop L, which is the master control flip-flop of the system.
The flip-flop L is shown in FIG. 9. If the locator bit LO is
properly positioned, the feedback is provided from the Schmitt
trigger associated with the locator so that there is an input LOC
ST so that an output is provided to energize all of the circuitry.
In the event that the card has been incorrectly inserted, that is,
backward, up-side-down, or otherwise out of alignment, there would
be provided a light signal and the CIP-RC light on the console will
instruct the purchaser to reinsert his card and the card release
solenoid will operate. Once the card has been correctly inserted
and the start button actuated, the L flip-flop will be set. It
should be noted that when the lid was raised and the L flip-flop
was reset, there was a reset provided for the binary digit counter
BC to reset it zero and also the binary error counter BEC was reset
to zero. When L is set, the light"push first digit" PFD is lighted
on the console. After a digit key has been depressed, the bit
sensing flip-flops are set. The pulse output from the clock 36 has
already been started by the closing of the lid and passed through
the push-pull driver stages 40 illustrated at the upper right hand
corner of the FIG. 10 drawing. The information is then being fed
back into the Schmitt trigger associated with each of the four
different bits and there is, of course, the fifth Schmitt trigger
associated with the locator bit LO. The reading process then occurs
according to whether a high or low dielectric constant insert 23 or
23a is being sensed with corresponding signal outputs provided as
was shown and explained in connection with FIG. 3.
An important feature of the present invention is to provide for the
situation where the purchaser makes an error in entering a digit
which is supposed to match the previously encoded digit on the
credit card. For this purpose, there is provided the reset button
on the console to permit the purchaser having made an error to try
again. For example, if the purchaser believes the first digit to be
a 2, he will push the 2 key on the keyboard 30. This key will
operate the buffer stage as shown in FIG. 7, that is, the key 2S.
The buffer output of the switch 2 is then K2 and K2. The outputs
from the Schmitt triggers are used to set the associated bit
flip-flops for the code system used, which in this case is a
1-2-4-8. The flip-flops are thus set initially to agree with the
code 1 on the card.
A comparison circuitry stage 41 is included at the lower right hand
portion of the FIG. 9 drawing, which is used to compare the
buffered coded outputs from the depressed key to the card outputs
as read through the system just described. For example, the binary
coded output from key 2, namely C2, may be compared with bit 2
(BT2) during the time of approximately 50 microseconds, while the
digit key is depressed. If the comparison checks out and there is
coincidence, there is no output provided to set the compare error
flip-flop CE. However, if there is a discrepancy, the compare error
flip-flop CE will be set. Once the purchaser releases the button,
the circuit counts up the binary digit counter BC one count. Once
the binary digit counter is counted up one, it turns on the next
light telling him to push the next digit key.
It will be understood that as soon as the digit key was released
all of the bit reading flip-flops were reset. When the next digit
key is depressed, the cycle just described is repeated. The next
four bits are used to set the correct set of the bit sensing
flip-flops. This is accomplished at the end of a 50 microsecond
period. After the next digit key is depressed and at the end of a
100 microsecond period, the bit flip-flops are compared in stage
41. If there is coincidence between the two settings, nothing
happens. If an error occurred, the compare error flip-flop CE again
would be set. Once the compare error flip-flop CE is set, it stays
set until the reset button is pushed. When the fourth digit has
been completed, the binary digit counter will check the state of
the CE flip-flop. One of two conditions will now exist, either the
purchaser has made a mistake and the compare error flip-flop is
set, or no mistake has been made and the compare error flip-flop is
not set. In the event the compare error flip-flop is set, the
"wrong code-push reset button" WC-PRB on the console 20 will become
lighted, In the event of an error, the reset button will be pushed
again, the binary digit counter and the compare error flip-flop CE
would be reset, and the cycle would be repeated. The binary error
counter BEC keeps track of how many times the reset button has been
pressed, and, if, for example, three tries have been made and the
count of 3 has been reached in the binary error counter BEC, then
the operation may be cut-off. The BEC3 alarm circuitry is
illustrated at the lower portion of the FIG. 9 drawing. This alarm
signal can be used, for example, to sound an alarm to summon a
police cruiser. Also, the alarm condition makes it impossible for
the binary digit counter to operateand the purchaser can do no more
testing because he cannot progress further than the digit 1. In
addition, the card cannot be released since the card release switch
28 is key operated and that key is available only to the attendant
to remove the card.
If the choice of the four digits has been made correctly by the
purchaser, the "code correct-make purchase" light CC-MP on the
console will be lighted and the purchaser can remove the selected
articles or amount of material from the vending machine.
At the end of the selection, the credit card holder actuates a
finished switch, as shown in FIG. 7. This initiates a time delay
which permits the operation of an associated printer and allows the
print-out of the bill. A signal will normally be provided at the
end of the billing print-out called "end of purchase signal" EOP,
as shown at the lower right hand part of FIG. 10. Also, a light on
the console "purchase complete-thank you" PC-TY will be
illuminated. This will provide an output signal from terminal W6 of
FIG. 6 to the base of the transistor 105 to energize the lid
release solenoid 110. The purchaser will then lift the lid 24. The
elevation of the lid provides a clamped signal which then is used
to reset a number of the compoents of the system preparatory to the
next cycle of operation. It likewise resets the master control
flip-flop L and holds the error flip-flop CE reset. The purchaser
has then finished and the billing equipment will eject a bill for
his records. He will remove the credit card and the system
operation is terminated.
It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a novel
and greatly improved system for encoding indicia on credit cards
and further provides an electronically controlled identification
verfication arrangement whereby, before any vending operation is
permitted, the identity of the purchaser is checked out. The system
just described makes possible verification of purchaser
identification on-the-spot without action by sales attendents and
without costly and time consuming deck-out through central computer
arrangement. It is a system which is particulary versatile in that
by simple changes to the card encoding and console layout it is
possible to eliminate the purchasers who have proved in the past to
be poor credit risks. It is further possible by variations in the
indicia layout to make the card useful for a number of different
automatic vending establishments.
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