Patent ID: 7690495

Claim:
A card reader assembly configured to be attached to a printer assembly and retrofit into a vending machine, said vending machine having a vending machine interface, said card reader assembly comprising: a faceplate having a user accessible front surface portion of approximately 3.375 inches by 4.25 inches, and a display slot and a print slot, said faceplate configured to facilitate access to a card reader; a support bracket fastened to said faceplate, said support bracket interconnects and aligns for assembly with a printer bracket of the printer assembly, said printer bracket being detachable from the support bracket, thereby detaching said printer assembly from said card reader assembly, the printer assembly being adapted to receive a roll of paper and including a printing mechanism adapted to print receipts on the paper, the printer assembly being remote from the faceplate; a paper guide configured to guide the paper from the printing mechanism through the print slot in the faceplate, the paper guide extending toward the printing mechanism and in contact with the print slot in the faceplate, the paper guide connected to the faceplate and not connected to the printer assembly so as to be physically separate and distinct from said printer assembly such that the paper guide remains in contact with the print slot of the faceplate when said printer bracket is detached from said support bracket; a card reader interface circuit board, said card reader interface circuit board being secured in proximity to said faceplate, said card reader interface circuit board further comprising a display configured to be viewable through said display slot; and said card reader interface circuit board configured to interconnect to and data communicate with a payment module configured to interconnect to and data communicate with said vending machine interface, such that by way of said payment module, said card reader assembly is configured to initiate or terminate cashless vending cycles effectuated by said vending machine interface.