RECORD OPERATED CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A VENDING MACHINE

A record operated control system is provided for use with a vending machine and a record reading/writing apparatus having a read/write head for reading and writing data on a record during relative movement between the record and the read/write head. The control system includes a decoding circuit coupled with the read/write head for decoding data read from the record thereby. A data storage circuit is coupled with the decoding circuit for receiving and storing the decoded data. A comparing circuit compares at least a portion of the stored data to predetermined data and produces a compare signal if these data compare. A data altering circuit is responsive to the compare signal for altering the stored data in accordance with the amount of credit required to vend a selected item. An encoding circuit is coupled with the storage circuit and with the read/write head for causing writing of the altered stored data onto the record. A vend enable circuit is responsive to the compare signal and to the altering circuit and said encoding circuit for enabling the vending of said selected item only after the altering and writing of the stored data. A control circuit controls the sequence of operation of the control system in the foregoing sequence.