| 摘要 |
A vending machine, such as a coffee vending machine, having product storage and dispensing-compartments and a microprocessor control is provided with a magnetic card reader connected to the microprocessor for receiving data stored on a card such as unique identifiers for the card, a supplier of product to be placed in a storage compartment, the type of product and the identifier of the storage compartment. The card is supplied along with a given quantity of product, to a vending machine operator who services the machine. The card is inserted in the card reader when the storage compartment is filled. If the unique codes are determined by the microprocessor to be correct it will set an internal counter to allow a given number of vends to be made, or set period of time during which vends can be made, from the compartment. When the microprocessor determines that the given number of vends has been made or the time period elapsed it will disable vending from that compartment until a new card is inserted in the reader.
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