The system is used to enable the operation of automatic vending equipment without requiring the attention of sales personnel. A special credit card construction is employed with the credit card precoded in binary code representing several digits and with a locator indicator to insure that the card is correctly positioned when inserted in the console or read-out station. The card coding includes an arrangement of high dielectric constant discs and low dielectric constant discs arranged in several bit groupings related to a plurality of identification digits. On the cards, which are preferably of the plastic material type, opaque conductive plastic inserts are included over and above the first mentioned discs so that the discs, their location and code arrangement, cannot be readily ascertained. The read-out device includes key operated switches for entering a second plurality of digits which are the same as those first encoded on the card and known only to the proper card holder. For example, the identifying digits may be the last four numbers of his social security number or the like. Responsive to the comparison and the coincidence of the code on the card and the code entered by the purchaser, the vending equipment is enabled so that the desired objects may be removed and a totalizer and appropriate print-out means are then actuated to total the amount of the purchases and then provide a printed bill for the purchaser.
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