Abstract: A device for degaussing magnetic transducers used with magnetic stripe cards includes a degaussing unit that drives a magnetic transducer with an electrical pulse, or a gradually increasing drive frequency, to eliminate the residual magnetism of the transducer. Logic circuitry controls the device to degauss with little or no additional equipment and avoids damage to the recordings, as on low-coercivity magnetic stripe cards.

Abstract: An accessory for permitting a vending machine to operate with either money or coded cards. The accessory is mounted to the outside of a vending machine and connected internally by means of an adapter electrically connected between the money handling unit and item dispensing unit of the vending machine. The accessory reads the credit value coded on the card, compares the same with the price of the item selected, actuates the item dispenser, deducts the price of the item dispensed from the amount originally coded on the card, and encodes a new value on the card as it is withdrawn. Other features are also disclosed.