Abstract: Methods and devices allow a handheld order unit to be used with a cash handling device. A handheld order unit may be used by a staff person to enter order information, to display an amount due for the meal or other transaction, to facilitate payment, to print receipts, and to communicate information about the transaction to a cash handling device. The cash handling device may identify the handheld order unit and the assigned user for the unit and determine what financial documents need to be inserted by the user for reconciliation purposes.

Abstract: A method for automatically generating change orders may be performed at a point of sale system. The point of sale system may determine an amount of funds in the point of sale system and whether additional funds are necessary. If so, a change order may be automatically requested from a back office system (e.g., a cash recycler) or a financial institution. The back office system may determine whether it is able to fulfill the change order request and if not, forward the request to the financial institution. In one or more arrangements, a notification that a change order request has been received may be transmitted to a manager or other change order personnel. The change order request and funds delivered to the point of sale system in response thereto may be reconciled with the back office system.

Abstract: A cash recycler or other currency handling device includes a flexible capacity module for adding additional storage capacity to the cash handling device. In some arrangements, all bills of one denomination, i.e., all one dollar bills, may be stored in, deposited into, and/or dispensed from the flexible capacity module. The bills stored in the flexible capacity module may not be debited or credited to a client account at a financial institution because the bills may not be considered part of the inventory of the cash handling device. However count data for the bills in the flexible capacity module may be integrated with data from the cash handling device in order to facilitate balancing, reconciliation, and the like.

Abstract: Methods and devices allow a handheld order unit to be used with a cash handling device. A handheld order unit may be used by a staff person to enter order information, to display an amount due for the meal or other transaction, to facilitate payment, to print receipts, and to communicate information about the transaction to a cash handling device. The cash handling device may identify the handheld order unit and the assigned user for the unit and determine what financial documents need to be inserted by the user for reconciliation purposes.

Abstract: A cash recycler or other currency handling device includes modules for automatically strapping a plurality of bills together and bagging the strapped bills for transport. A user may determine a number of bills to be bundled in a stack or unit. Once the predetermined threshold is met, the bills will be automatically transferred to a strapping area where the bills will be strapped together for storage or transport. Additionally or alternatively, the bills may be strapped together as they enter a cartridge, such as an overflow cartridge. The strapped bills may be transferred to a bagging module where the stacks of bills will be automatically bagged, each bag including a predetermined number of stacks of bills. The bags will then be transferred to storage for transport.

Abstract: Methods and devices provide flexible demarcation points in order to selectably recognize currency deposited in a cash handling device. A denomination threshold may be set. A deposit may be requested. Currency may be deposited and scanned in order to determine its denomination. The currency may be routed to a stacker corresponding to the currency's denomination. If the denomination of the currency is less than or equal to the denomination threshold, then the deposit may be credited to an account. Otherwise, crediting of the account may be delayed until the currency can be verified as, for example, not invalid reproductions of currency. Information about the deposit may be communicated to a bank.

Abstract: A cash recycler includes one or more universal cartridges storing cash which may be exchanged between different types of cash recyclers. The swapping of universal cartridges may allow for improved efficiency when a cash handling device is detected to have a need for additional currency, removal of surplus currency, removal of unfit currency, and other services.

Abstract: Non-currency items such as lottery tickets, coupons and the like may be recognized and reconciled by a retail store and a financial institution without having to physically transmit the non-currency item to a sponsor of the non-currency item or the financial institution. Instead, a retail store or other organization may electronically transmit information regarding the non-currency item to the sponsor for confirmation of payment and to the financial institution for recognition. In some configurations, the financial institution may be configured to request confirmation of payment from the sponsor (i.e., instead of the retail store). Reconciliation of a cash handling device or a portion thereof (e.g., a cash register drawer) my take into account both non-currency items and currency items so that non-currency items do not have to be separately and/or manually reconciled.

Abstract: Methods and devices provide correlation of information to a transaction in cash handling devices. A first input may be provided to a cash handling device in order to initiate a transaction. Information related to the transaction to be entered in the cash handling device. The information may be correlated to the transaction in the cash handling device. The information may be stored in the cash handling device.

Abstract: Methods and devices provide robbery functionality in a cash handling device. A user attempting to withdraw money from a recycler may be identified. The user may indicate a problem, such as a robbery attempt. An alarm code may be sent from the recycler and may provide notification of the robbery attempt. A normal welcome screen may be displayed to the user so that the robber is not alerted of the robbery notification. The user may request a withdrawal of money and may identify a quantity of money to be withdrawn. Money may be dispensed if the withdrawal request is less than a robbery limit. If the request exceeds the limit, options may include: notice that a limit has been exceeded or that the requested funds are unavailable, dispensing amount(s) up to the robbery limit, and/or displaying error message(s). The machine may be precluded from use until the out of service condition is reset.

Abstract: A cash handling device includes one or more universal cartridges storing cash which may be swapped between different types of cash handling devices. The swapping of universal cartridges may allow for improved efficiency when a cash handling device is detected to have a need for additional currency, removal of surplus currency, removal of unfit currency, and other services.

Abstract: A target level of funds may be defined to specify an ideal level of currency stored in a currency handling device for efficient operation. The target level may be modified based on forecasted currency usage needs. Forecasts may be conducted based on historical usage data, user input and seasonal/event considerations. When a level of funds exceeds the target level by a specified amount, a transport request may be generated. When a level of funds underruns the target level by a specified amount, a change order request may be generated. In one or more arrangements, recommendations for target levels, transport requests and change order requests may be provided for user confirmation instead of automatically executing the recommendation.

Abstract: An aspect of the invention provides methods, computer media, and apparatuses to support the administration of a cash recycler system. An administrator sets hours of operation for the cash recycler system during which a user can access a cash handling device in the cash recycler system. The cash recycler system may be configured according to an operating time setting to operate between a beginning time and a terminating time, where the operating time setting may specify a periodic operating time for a specified day of the week. Access to the recycler system may be restricted based on identification information from a user and may be restricted only to an administrator outside configured operating hours. The recycler system may receive a calendar entry corresponding to a time period of operation and may override a periodic operating time by the time period contained in the calendar entry.

Abstract: A currency handling device such as a currency recycler, depository machine or a dispensing machine may provide users with the ability to access multiple accounts from the same device. Accordingly, a user may make deposits to or withdrawals from multiple accounts from a single device. The multiple accounts may, for example, correspond to different departments in a business or organization, allowing employees from different departments to use the same currency device to process transaction (e.g., change orders, deposits, etc.).

Abstract: A cash recycler or other currency handling device includes an environmental condition monitoring system including a plurality of sensors configured to monitor environmental conditions inside the housing of the cash recycler. In some arrangements, the temperature and/or humidity within the housing will be monitored. Upon sensing that the conditions are outside of a predetermined threshold, an indication will be sent to a controller that will adjust operation of the cash recycler based on the indications received from the sensors.

Abstract: Methods and devices provide flexible demarcation points in order to determine whether access to individual stackers, rollers or areas in a cash handling device should be allowed. A plurality of stackers may be provided in a cash handling device and may store different denominations of currency. An input means may receive user input to request access to one or more of the stackers. One or more variables stored in memory may indicate whether user access is authorized for a given stacker. One or more electromechanical locks may secure one or more of the stackers. Computer-executable instructions executing on a processor may access the variable(s) in order to determine whether to allow user access to a requested stacker and may unlock the lock if access is authorized.

Abstract: Methods and devices provide security to prevent transaction activity until an audit is complete. A cash handling device such as, for example, a cash recycler may include a processor for executing computer-executable instructions, memory that stores the computer-executable instructions, and an input means for receiving user input. The computer executable instructions may cause the apparatus to: allow a first input to the input means in order to indicate that an audit is to be performed, prevent any further transactions on the cash handling until the audit is complete, allow a second input to the input means in order to indicate that the audit is complete, and allow any further transactions to proceed after the audit is complete.

Abstract: A method of transmitting and posting transaction information from a client to a financial institution is presented. In some arrangements, transaction information may be stored at a cash handling device or a bank application. Upon occurrence of a triggering event, the transaction information may be automatically transmitted for posting purposes from the client to the financial institution. In some arrangements, transactions may be bundled together and transmitted upon occurrence of the triggering event. In other arrangements, individual transactions may be transmitted upon occurrence of the triggering event.

Abstract: A cash recycler or other currency handling device includes an integrated uninterruptible power supply. The integrated uninterruptible power supply may be integrated with the cash recycler or other currency handling device such that the power supply is pre-configured based on one or more currency handling device specific components. The cash recycler may be used with various types of uninterruptible power supplies. The cash recycler is configured to receive power from a primary power source. When there is an interruption in the power provided by the primary power source, the cash recycler is transitioned to receiving power from the uninterruptible power supply located within the cash recycler. This transition is performed without interruption to the power to the cash recycler.

Abstract: Methods and devices enable inventory levels to be monitored and controlled across a plurality of networked cash handling devices. A cash handling device may be stocked with inventory. Deposits to and withdrawals from the cash handling device may be made. Changes in the inventory due to the deposits and the withdrawals may be monitored and controlled from a cash handling device or from a remote computer. Inventory in the cash handling devices may be adjusted when at least one threshold for the inventory is reached. Additionally or alternatively, inventory may be dispensed from one or more cash handling devices that have more of a currency denomination than one or more other cash handling devices.