There were a couple of changes. The change from charge plate to charge card was a change in the way the transaction was processed. Basically old charge plates were imprinted, sometimes voice authorized, and submitted for billing, whereas the new charge cards were electronically authorized by swiping with imprinting still available as a fall back when the card didn't swipe or the network wasn't available for authorization. The back end accounting side of things didn't change. Customer still had a charge account with full payment due at the end of the month.

Sometime in the early 90s more stores began offering revolving credit terms (more like a credit card where you need only pay a minimum payment and interest). This was a change in the way the account was billed and payed, not necessarily a change in the way the card transaction was processed. Still required swiping, authorizing, and/or imprint fall back.

When the move toward revolving credit happened some stores began to outsource their credit accounts. Letting banks and finance companies handle the billing. Some stores still had their own internal financing. The cards themselves in either case still bore the name of the store and were only usable at that store.

All throughout this time( charge plates to charge cards to revolving accounts) other charge cards and revolving cards that could be used anywhere were being established. Diners. American Express (which is still mostly charge cards), and master charge, and in the 80s discover, which was sears trying to get into the charge and credit card business. Some stores with their own charge and later credit accounts refused to accept other charge/credit cards.

Fast forward to now. Charge cards are still around but mostly issued by banks for use at a variety of merchants. Most accounts are credit cards also acceptable at many locations. And even stotres have begun issuing credit cards usable on any of the major charge networks with basically only the retailers name on the card with all the processing billing Etc being handled by a separate bank

This is all a very rough and brief summary. On mobile sorry for formatting and some convoluted language. Will try to edit later.