Apparatus for changing the information recorded on cards

Claim 2

Apparatus for changing the value given to a card, said value being recorded on said card in the form of code marks, comprising: means for reading said code marks means for memorizing said code as represented by said code marks; code providing means for providing another code representing another value by which said card value is to be changed; means for performing addition or subtraction between the values represented by said memorized code and said other code; means for recording the result of said calculation on said card in the form of code marks; and means for preventing said code providing means from applying said other code to said calculating means when the value represented by said other code is greater than the value represented by said memorized code.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said card is provided with an element by which to test the genuineness of the card, and further including means for detecting said element.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1, further including: means for holding said card; means for moving said card holding means into a predetermined position; means for locking said card holding means at said predetermined position; means for causing said reading, erasing and recording means to scan the surface of said card at said locked position; and means for releasing said lock when said reading, erasing and recording have been finished.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said last but one means effects a relative movement of said reading, erasing and recording means with respect to said card at said locked position.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said relative movement comprises a first course wherein said reading means operates, and a second course subsequent to said first course and in the opposite direction thereto, wherein said erasing and recording means operate, the former preceding the latter.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said card is provided with synchronizing marks, and further including means for detecting said synchronizing marks; and means for actuating said mark reading means to operate as said detecting means detects said synchronizing marks during said first course of said relative movement and actuating said recording means to operate as said detecting means detects said synchronizing marks during said second course of said relative movement.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said reading and recording means are the same.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said code marks are magnetically rEcorded on said card.

Claim 10

A control apparatus for a vending machine operated by a control card having code marks thereon representing the purchasing value of the card comprising in combination: means for reading said code marks and memorizing the code represented by said marks; code means for providing another code representing another value by which the card value is to be changed; calculation means for performing addition or subtraction between the values represented by the memorized code and said other code; code recording means for recording the results of calculations on the card in the form of code marks; article dispensing control circuit means including manually operable article selection means for controlling the generation of said other code; and circuit means preventing the dispensing of a selected article when the value represented by said other code is greater than the value represented by said memorized code read from the card, whereby the dispensing of an article is prevented when the purchasing value of a given card is not at least equal to the value of the selected article.

Claim 11

A control apparatus for a vending machine operated by a control card having code marks thereon representing the purchasing value of the card comprising in combination: means for reading said code marks and memorizing the code represented by said marks; code means for providing another code representing another value by which the card value is to be changed; calculation means for performing addition or subtraction between the values represented by the memorized code and said other code; code recording means for recording the results of calculations on the card in the form of code marks; article dispensing control circuit means including manually operable article selection means for controlling the generation of said other code; and circuit means preventing the dispensing of a selected article when the value represented by said other code is greater than the value represented by said memorized code read from the card, whereby the dispensing of an article is prevented when the purchasing value of a given card is not at least equal to the value of the selected article.