Patent ID: 6148987
Filing Date: 2000-11-21
Classification: G07D,G07F

Abstract:
A method of operating a coin-operated apparatus to dispense an article, the method comprising the steps of:storing a plurality of distinct total vend values indicative of a currency amount required for an apparatus to dispense an article;providing a plurality of distinct tokens, each distinct token associated with one of the plurality of distinct total vend values;providing each one of the plurality of tokens with a distinct, metallic signature characteristic;storing the at least one detectable characteristic of each token;detecting the at least one characteristic of one token deposited into the apparatus;comparing the detected characteristic of the deposited token with the prestored characteristics of the plurality of tokens to determine a match with one of the prestored token characteristics; andchanging the total vend value to the total vend value associated with the deposited token matching one of the prestored token characteristics.