Abstract: A card issuer first visually confirms that a person who requests the issue of a user card is an adult. The card issuer then issues a user card on which data unique to the card has been previously recorded. The person writes his (her) name, address and the like on the card. The card is then inserted into a card reading section. An apparatus for identifying minors performs certain processing of the data unique to the card read in the card reading section to output an identification number unique to the card, which is displayed on a number display. The user memorizes this identification number as a code number. In buying a product, the user inserts the issued card into the card reading section and, in addition, inputs the code number through a ten key. When the identification number of the card is identical to the input code number, the apparatus for identifying minors outputs a sale permission signal.

Abstract: This vending machine automatically deals with articles for which printed article bar codes are given. The vending machine comprises a bar code reader for reading the article bar codes, data setting mechanism for setting data required for vending the articles based on the reading of the bar codes from the bar code reader, and sales management mechanism for managing sales information regarding the articles based on the bar codes read by the bar code reader. The vending machine may set data for individual species of articles required for vending thereof and manage sales data for the individual species, instead of controlling the operations for each article column, thereby removing errors involved in the latter controlled operation.