Abstract: One example embodiment in this disclosure provides an apparatus comprising an opening configured to receive a banknote into a banknote path. The apparatus also includes a plurality of inboard transport wheels positioned in the banknote path and configured to transport the banknote in a direction longitudinal to the banknote path. The apparatus also includes at least one initial transport wheel positioned in the banknote path and nearer to the opening than the plurality of inboard transport wheels, the at least one initial transport wheel configured to transport the banknote from the opening to a first of the plurality of inboard transport wheels. The at least one initial transport wheel causes the banknote to pivot around the first inboard transport wheel when a leading edge of the banknote contacts the first inboard transport wheel. Pivoting causes banknote to contact a second of the plurality of inboard transport wheels.

Abstract: A sensing system to process at least one valuable document is described herein. The system includes a light source to generate a light beam. The system also includes at least one light pipe having one or more diverting surfaces to direct the light beam at a predetermined angle of incidence onto the valuable document. At least one reflective surface, to receive a first portion of the light beam transmitted through the valuable document and to reflect off the first portion of the light beam towards the valuable document, is included. A light detector is configured to receive at least a second portion of the light beam re-transmitted through the valuable document.

Abstract: An embodiment of this disclosure provides a money item dispensing apparatus comprising: a money item track operable to receive a money item and transport the money item, a denominator configured to determine a denomination of the money item on the money item track, a rotatable money item canister operable to receive the money item in a tube of a plurality of tubes, and a diverter gate configured to divert the money item to the tube, the tube corresponding to the denomination of the money item.

Abstract: A document handling apparatus for recycling documents includes an authentication unit, a first recycling storage unit, a document cassette, and a controller. The authentication unit is for receiving an input document and classifying the input document as having a class that is one of a plurality of classes. The first recycling storage unit is adapted to store documents belonging to two or more of the plurality of classes. The document cassette is adapted to store received documents. The controller is adapted to direct the input document to one of the document cassette and the first recycling storage unit based on content of the first recycling storage unit and the class of the input document. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.

Abstract: A coin comprises a core made of a first metal, an outer ring surrounding the core concentrically and made of a further metal, and a central ring between the core and outer ring fixedly connected thereto. The central ring consists of an electrically insulating material. Further, the central ring is transparent to electromagnetic waves of a first wavelength range and is less transparent or not transparent to a second wavelength range. Methods for testing the coin are also described.

Abstract: A sensing system is described herein. The sensing system includes a sampling module configured to define a sampling interval. The sensing system also includes a plurality of sensors to sample an inserted item based at least on the sampling interval. The sensing system includes a tracking module configured to obtain start sensor data from the sensors, determine if start sensor data is absent, increment an absence count based at least on the determination, compare the absence count with a threshold absence count, and reject the inserted item based at least on the comparison.

Abstract: A gate assembly can include a housing, a main body, at least one member, and an activation rib. The housing can define at least a portion of a card path of a payment interface. The main body can be coupled to the housing and can be movable between a closed position and an open position. The at least one member can extend from the main body such that, when the main body is in the closed position, the at least one member extends into the card path and can be oriented to inhibit an item from traveling through the card path. The activation rib can extend from the main body and can be located such that, when the main body is in the closed position, the activation rib extends into the card path. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a bi-modal roller configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the bi-modal roller. The bi-modal roller includes two ends and a rolling outer surface. The rolling outer surface is divided into a convex portion and concave portion. The concave portion includes at least one concave curve extending longitudinally between the two ends. The concave portion is configured to, when a film physically contacts the concave portion, affect translation of the film in response to a stick condition or a slip condition. The convex portion includes at least one convex curve extending longitudinally between the two ends. The convex portion is configured to, when the film physically contacts the convex portion, affect translation of the film in response to a stick condition or a slip condition.

Abstract: A document acceptor for authenticating and storing documents includes a document validator, a document cassette and a displacement actuator. The document validator is for authenticating received documents. The document cassette is for storing the documents received by the document validator. The displacement actuator is adapted to change a position of the document cassette from a first position to a second position to mate the document cassette with the document validator. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.

Abstract: A money handling device for accepting, storing and dispensing valuable documents in exchange for goods or services includes a validation module (100), a recycler module (200) and a note storage module (300). The validation module determines acceptable and non-acceptable valuable documents, and the storage module stores acceptable valuable documents. The recycler is arranged to dispense a temporarily stored valuable document to the validation module for dispensing as change or to dispense a temporarily stored valuable document to the note storage module.

Abstract: A document bundler for a bill validator includes a document path, a transportation unit, and a clamp mechanism. The transportation unit is adapted to move a plurality of documents in series through the document path. The clamp mechanism includes a pushing member. The clamp mechanism is adapted to clamp a first document of the plurality of documents with the pushing member to inhibit movement of the first document by the transportation unit while a second document of the plurality of documents is transported substantially alongside the first document in the document path. The second document residing substantially alongside the first document forms a document bundle. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.

Abstract: A device and a system for detecting a tape or a piece of glue on a document and methods for detecting a tape or a piece of glue on a document are described. The device comprises at least one light source, at least one light receiver and at least one light barrier. The at least one light source is arranged on a first side of the at least one light barrier and the at least one light receiver is arranged on a second side of the at least one light barrier opposite to the first side. The light barrier is configured to come into contact with a document to prevent or reduce light emitted from the light source on the first side of the light barrier to be transmitted to the light receiver on the second side of the light barrier.

Abstract: A vending machine audit system includes a vending machine including a vending machine controller configured to generate device data representative of the operations of the vending machine. At least one peripheral device is operatively coupled to the vending machine and is configured to generate device data representative of the operations of the peripheral device. An audit module includes a data storage component and is operatively coupled to the vending machine controller and the at least one peripheral device. The audit module is configured to receive device data from each of the vending machine controller and the at least one peripheral device and to perform a merging operation to generate a single merged audit data record representative of the operations of the vending machine and the at least one peripheral device.

Abstract: An actuated castellation plate can be arranged across a length of a currency passageway of a currency acceptor assembly and configured in an open state. Pressure from an attempted string fraud, such as pulling in reverse a bill across the castellation plate, can actuate the castellation plate to a closed state, obstructing the currency passageway so that the bait bill cannot be retrieved. Embodiments can include a currency acceptor including a currency passageway, mounting assembly, currency storage assembly having an entrance, the currency passageway being arranged to guide a currency denomination to the entrance of the currency storage assembly, and an actuated castellation plate including an array of teeth coupled to a baseplate including a receptacle and two opposing mounting ends, the castellation plate being configured at the entrance of the cashbox assembly to transfer between an open and closed state. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.

Abstract: A handling apparatus comprising an offset sampling module and a digital processing module is described herein. The offset sampling module is configured to provide a sampled signal by sampling at least one signal at a sampling frequency that is offset from a fundamental frequency of the signal by an offset factor; and the digital processing module configured to convert the sampled signal into a frequency domain signal. The handling apparatus further includes an authentication module to determine at least one characteristic property based at least on the frequency domain signal; and to classify the inserted item of value based on the determination.

Abstract: A system for storing items of value includes a lockable cassette, a door, a container, and a locking mechanism. The lockable cassette includes an opening for receiving items of value. The door is operably coupled to the cassette and is movable between an open position providing access to the contents of the cassette and a closed position preventing access to the contents of the cassette. The container is removably coupled to the cassette for securely storing items of value and includes a closure mechanism configured to restrict access to the stored items of value in the container. The locking mechanism is coupled to the door and is configured to selectively lock the door in the closed position and to selectively operate the closure mechanism. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.

Abstract: A document validator includes a sensor, a transportation unit, an actuator, and a controller. The transportation unit is adjacent the sensor and has a document path, at least a portion of which has an adjustable path height. The transportation unit is configured to transport a document from a first location past the sensor to a second location. The actuator is operable to transition the adjustable path height between a first path height and a second path height different from the first path height. The controller is configured to automatically cause the actuator to transition the adjustable path height between the first path height and the second path height. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates to a capacity detector, a waveguide and a manifold for use with a coin sensor as well as methods for sensing a capacity of a coin receptacle. In one aspect, the waveguide for use with a coin sensor comprises an excitation end for receiving an acoustic signal, a horn end for disposition adjacent to a coin receptacle, and a conduit interconnecting the horn end and the excitation end. In embodiments, the horn end of the waveguide may define a horn selected from a tapered horn, an exponential horn, a tractrix horn, or a modified tractrix horn.