Abstract: A system for the sale of consumer goods, wherein the system comprises a device for providing a customer with a non-validated token that represents an article of merchandise. The article is to be paid for by the customer at a checkout unit when the token is checked by said unit. Said checkout unit has a means for providing a validated token that bears a transaction code. Said checkout unit has a means for communicating with an article dispensing device and providing the article dispensing device with said transaction code after the article has been paid for. The validated token is used to obtain the purchased article from the article dispensing device with the aid of a comparator device within the article dispensing device which compares the transaction code on the validated token with the transaction code communicated by said communication device, wherein the article dispensing device delivers the purchased article when there is a defined code correspondence.

Abstract: A system for sale of consumer goods, the system including means for issuing to a customer from a printer a non-validated token representing an article of merchandise following election by the customer from a selection panel. The article is to be paid for by the customer at a check-out unit when checking the token at said unit. Said check-out unit has means for providing a validated token from a token printer or dispenser as a replacement token or by validating a reusable token. The validated token carries a transaction code elected from the group of: a serially generated transaction code or a randomly generated transaction code. Said checkout unit has means for communicating with an article dispenser means and providing the article dispenser means with said transaction code following payment of the article.

Abstract: A system for sale of consumer goods, the system including means for issuing to a customer from a printer a non-validated token representing an article of merchandise following election by the customer from a selection panel. The article is to be paid for by the customer at a check-out unit when checking the token at said unit. Said checkout unit has means for providing a validated token from a token printer or dispenser as a replacement token or by validating a reusable token. The validated token carries a transaction code elected from the group of: a serially generated transaction code or a randomly generated transaction code. Said checkout unit has means for communicating with an article dispenser means and providing the article dispenser means with said transaction code following payment of the article.