Promotional scanning and validating device

Claim 1

A self-contained promotional system requiring user interaction comprising a scanning and validating device and a coded substrate, said device comprising a tamper-resistant housing having a single slot therein to allow at least partial insertion and removal of said coded substrate, said substrate having a coded information section with coded information thereon and a validation section on the insertable portion, and an electromechanical assembly located within said housing wherein said electromechanical assembly comprises means for positioning said coded substrate when inserted into the slot in said housing, means for scanning the coded information section of said substrate comprising a predetermined number of phototransistors relating to an equal number of infrared transmitters positioned on opposing sides of an equal number of shaded or non-shaded segments of the coded information section of the substrate when properly positioned in the electromechanical assembly, a microcomputer for determining whether a substrate is valid and a prize is to be awarded based on the coded information, means for validating said substrate in said validation area, comprising a rotatable drum on which a series of stamp pads are located, the stamp pad being brought into contact with the validation section of the substrate by a D.C. electric motor and further comprising means for monitoring the current in the D.C. electric motor and reversing said motor once a predetermined change in current has been sensed relating to the pressure of the stamp pad on the substrate, and at least one D.C. battery which powers the components of the electromechanical assembly.