Tokens and token handling devices

Claim 2

A coin operated machine comprising: coin validating means (4) for testing coins and generating signals indicative of the properties thereof; a delivery path (7) for delivering coins to said coin validating means (4); means for generating an output permitting the vending of a product or the performing of a service, said means storing operational data and being operable to generate said output in dependence on said operational data and the signals from said coin validating means (4); and token reading means (32;100) operable to receive tokens (50;106) from said delivery path (7) and to read data stored thereby; characterised in that said token reading means (32;100) is operable to generate a signal dependent on said token data for altering said operational data.

Claim 3

A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said output generating means is additionally operable to generate an output in dependence on said token data, whereby said machine can be operated by coins and tokens.

Claim 4

A machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein said token reading means (32;100) is additionally operable to update the token data in accordance with the value of the products vended by the machine or the service performed by the machine.

Claim 5

A machine as claimed in claim 3, including means (42) to return said token (50;106) to the user after the token data has been updated.

Claim 6

A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said token reading means (32;100) is also operable in dependence upon the data stored by said token (50;106) to deliver to the token audit data concerning operations which have been carried out by the machine.

Claim 7

A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the operational data comprises a code, the machine being operable in a first mode to generate said output on condition that said token data includes data which matches said code, and the machine being operable in a second mode to alter said code in accordance with said token data.

Claim 8

A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said operational data comprises price data, the machine being arranged to generate a price signal indicative of the value of said product or service and dependent on said price data, said machine being operable to alter said price data in accordance with said token data.

Claim 9

A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said token reading means (32;100) comprises means (42) for detaining the token at a reading location while communication between the token (50;106) and the reading means (32;100) is established.

Claim 10

A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said token reading means (32;100) is operable to transmit a signal, and to determine data stored by the token (50;106) by detecting the influence on said signal of changes in the impedance of the token (50;106).

Claim 11

A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said token reading means (100) is operable to generate a first signal for powering up the token (106) and thereafter to perform a first communication sequence in which data in said token (106) is read, and subsequently to generate a second signal for powering up the token (106) again and to perform a second communication sequence for transmitting data to the token (106).

Claim 12

A machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein, during each said communication sequence, said token (106) and said token reading means (100) establish two-way communication.

Claim 13

A coin validating and token reading device, said device comprising testing stations at which coin validating and token reading operations can be respectively performed, a coin validator (4) for determining the validity of coins at one of said stations, means (32;100) for reading data stored in a token (50;106) at the other station, and a first, common path (7) for receiving coins and tokens and for delivering them to said stations characterised in that the first path is arranged to deliver coins and tokens to a first said testing station, the device further comprising second and third paths (30,12) for selectively receiving items from said first testing station, and directing means operable in response to the results of the operation performed at said first testing station for selectively directing items to said second or third path (30,12), a second said testing station being disposed along said second path (30).

Claim 14

A coin validating and token reading device, said device comprising testing stations at which coin validating and token reading operations can be respectively performed, a coin validator (4) for determining the validity of coins at one of said stations, means (32;100) for reading data stored in a token (50;106) at the other station, and a first, common path (7) for receiving coins and tokens and for delivering them to said stations characterised in that the first path is arranged to deliver coins and tokens to a first said testing station, the device further comprising second and third paths (30,12) for selectively receiving items from said first testing station, and directing means operable in response to the results of the operation performed at said first testing station for selectively directing items to said second or third path (30,12), a second said testing station being disposed along said second path (30).

Claim 15

A device as claimed in claim 12, including a common entrance slot through which coins and tokens can be inserted into said first path (7).

Claim 16

A device as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein said coin validator (4) is arranged to determine the validity of coins at said first testing station and said means (32;100) for reading data is arranged to read data from tokens at said second testing station.

Claim 17

A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said second path (30) is a reject path for conveying non-genuine coins and tokens to said data reading means (32;100), and said third path (12) is an accept path for conveying genuine coins.

Claim 19

A device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said fourth path is arranged to convey items leaving said second testing station to a dispensing location for dispensing of the items and said fifth path is arranged to convey items leaving said second testing station to a storage location for storage of the items.

Claim 21

A device as claimed in claim 18 when dependent on claim 17, wherein the data transmitted to the token (50;106) determines an updated credit value to be stored by the token (50;106), and the second directing means is arranged to direct a token (50;106) to the fifth path if the updated credit value equals zero.

Claim 25

A device as claimed in claim 22, wherein, during each said communication sequence, said token (106) and said token reading means (100) establish two-way communication.

Claim 26

A coin operated machine including a coin validator and token reading device as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 23, the machine being capable of performing operations in dependence on the output of the coin validator (4).

Claim 27

A machine as claimed in claim 24, the machine additionally being capable of performing operations in dependence on the output of said token reading means (32;100), whereby said machine can be operated by coins or tokens.

Claim 28

A machine as claimed in claim 25, wherein said token reading means (32;100) is additionally operable to update the token data in accordance with the value of products vended by the machine or a service performed by the machine.

Claim 29

A machine as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 26, comprising means for generating an output permitting the performing of an operation, said means storing operational data and being operable to generate said output in dependence on said operational data and the signals from said coin validator (4), said token reading means (32;100) being operable to generate a signal dependent on data read from said token (50;106) for altering said operational data.

Claim 30

A machine as claimed in claim 27 when directly or indirectly dependent on claim 25, wherein the operational data comprises a code, the machine being operable in a first mode to perform a said operation on condition that said token data includes data which matches said code, and the machine being operable in a second mode to alter said code in accordance with said token data.

Claim 31

A machine as claimed in claim 27 or 28, wherein said operational data comprises price data, the machine being arranged to generate a signal permitting dispensing of a product or performing of a service and to generate a price signal indicative of the value of said product or service and dependent on said price data, said machine being operable to alter said price data in accordance with said token data.