Patent ID: 6304796
Filing Date: 2001-10-16
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
A vending machine operated by a chip card, comprising:a housing having a window to display goods to be sold, multiple selection buttons associated with said goods, a display to show the sum of money recorded on said chip card, and an access bin from which said goods are obtained from said vending machine;an electronic control unit for storing information about prices for said goods;an inductive card reader for reading information from and writing information on said chip card by induction, wherein the inductive card reader comprisesa micro control unit electrically connected to said electronic control unit;a communication module electrically connected between said micro control unit and a host computer in an administrative center;a display module electrically connected to said micro control unit to control the operation of said display;a firewall electrically connected to said micro control unit; andan inductive read/write head electrically connected to said firewall for reading information from and writing information on said chip card by induction;a checker for checking the stock of said goods;a transporter for transferring said goods to said access bin;multiple indicators to show what goods are out of stock; andmultiple lamps to show what goods can be selected based on the sum of money recorded on said chip card;wherein said inductive card reader is electrically connected to said electronic control unit to which said checker, said transporter, said indicators, said buttons and said lamps are electrically connected.