Patent ID: 7766228

Claim:
A system for the sale of consumer goods comprising, a) an article token selection panel device activatable by a customer, the device displaying different articles of merchandise or representations thereof selectable by a customer upon activation of the device, b) a printer controlled by the article token selection panel device for providing a customer with a non-validated token that corresponds to an article of merchandise selected by the customer, when the article token selection panel device is activated by the customer, c) the printer having means for printing the non-validated token with article identifying information for the article of merchandise selected by the customer upon activation of the article token selection panel device, d) said article identifying information including information related to a unique token number and the type of article of merchandise selected by the customer, and wherein the unique token number is selected from the group consisting of, (i) a serially generated code, (ii) a randomly generated code, (iii) a predetermined series of codes, and (iv) a unique token number generated serially or randomly, e) a checkout unit having, (i) checking means for checking the article-identifying information on the non-validated token, (ii) payment receiver means for receiving payment from the customer for the article of merchandise identified by the article identifying information on the non-validated token, (iii) generator means for generating a first transaction code after payment for the article has been received, and (iv) validated token provider means for providing the customer with a validated token having a second transaction code, a unique token number generated serially or randomly wherein the unique token number provided on the non-validated token constitutes the second transaction code on the validated token, f) an article dispensing device in communication with said checkout unit for receiving the first transaction code generated by the checkout unit after the article of merchandise has been paid for at the checkout unit, and g) a comparator cooperable with the article dispensing device and having means for comparing the first transaction code with the second transaction code on the validated token, and when there is a predetermined code correspondence, enabling said article dispensing device to dispense the article of merchandise for access by the customer.