Abstract: Change dispensing apparatus having multiple columns for storing and vending tubes containing change in coin or in currency. The denominations being vended by a particular machine, the unit value of that denomination, and the value of a tube containing a predetermined quantity of that denomination, are user-programmable for each machine, and any combination of denominations can be user-assigned to the columns. The tube locations in each column are monitored to detect tubes in each column, providing a running indication of the amount of change remaining for each denomination in the safe, and for the total value of change in the safe. An ejector is positionable at the lower end of each column and contains a member for selectably extracting the lowermost tube in each column. The change safe on request prints reports of change usage and other factors associated with the safe, and also predicts the amount of change required for future usage.

Abstract: A drop safe for receiving and temporarily storing currency or other valuables from a cash register or point-of-sale terminal. The drop safe uses bill acceptors to transfer cash into sealed cassettes within the safe. An envelope drop assembly allows transferring into the safe currency or non-cash items not accepted by the acceptor. The drop safe door has a door control assembly including a gas spring to counterbalance the weight of the door for controlled movement during opening. The door is locked by a pair of door bolts linked to a lock cam, which is secured by a dead bolt against movement. An electronic control unlocks the dead bolt in response to entry of correct numbers, allowing a rotary dial of the outside of the safe to move the lock cam and release the door bolts. The drop safe includes a processor programmed to control the unlocking operation and to maintain and produce various reports of deposits into the safe, enabling easy correlation of those deposits with business-day operation of the drop safe.

Abstract: A drop safe for receiving and temporarily storing currency or other valuables from a cash register or point-of-sale terminal. The drop safe uses bill acceptors to transfer cash into sealed cassettes within the safe. An envelope drop assembly allows transferring into the safe currency or non-cash items not accepted by the acceptor. The drop safe door has a door control assembly including a gas spring to counterbalance the weight of the door for controlled movement during opening. The door is locked by a pair of door bolts linked to a lock cam, which is secured by a dead bolt against movement. An electronic control unlocks the dead bolt in response to entry of correct numbers, allowing a rotary dial of the outside of the safe to move the lock cam and release the door bolts. The drop safe includes a processor programmed to control the unlocking operation and to maintain and produce various reports of deposits into the safe, enabling easy correlation of those deposits with business-day operation of the drop safe.

Abstract: A drop safe for receiving and temporarily storing currency or other valuables from a cash register or point-of-sale terminal. The drop safe uses bill acceptors to transfer cash into sealed cassettes within the safe. An envelope drop assembly allows transferring into the safe currency or non-cash items not accepted by the acceptor. The drop safe door has a door control assembly including a gas spring to counterbalance the weight of the door for controlled movement during opening. The door is locked by a pair of door bolts linked to a lock cam, which is secured by a dead bolt against movement. An electronic control unlocks the dead bolt in response to entry of correct numbers, allowing a rotary dial of the outside of the safe to move the lock cam and release the door bolts. The drop safe includes a processor programmed to control the unlocking operation and to maintain and produce various reports of deposits into the safe, enabling easy correlation of those deposits with business-day operation of the drop safe.

Abstract: A system for authorizing access to a secured device, such as an automated teller machine (ATM) or a pay telephone, without a key or combination for the secured device, and without a fixed communication link extending to the device. An encoded access message is produced which identifies a present access code previously stored at the secured device, the personal identification number (PIN) of a technician, and the identification number of a particular portable terminal. The technician manually enters the encoded access message and a PIN into the terminal, which verifies the identification number of the terminal and the manually-entered PIN against information encoded in the access message. If that information is authenticated, the portable terminal is connected to the secured device. The encoded access message is transferred from the terminal to the secured device, which compares an access code previously stored at that device with information contained in the access message. The proper PIN also is re-entered.

Abstract: A system for authorizing access to a secured device, such as an automated teller machine (ATM) or a pay telephone, without a key or combination for the secured device, and without a fixed communication link extending to the device. An encoded access message is produced which identifies a present access code previously stored at the secured device, the personal identification number (PIN) of a technician, and the identification number of a particular portable terminal. The technician manually enters the encoded access message and a PIN into the terminal, which verifies the identification number of the terminal and the manually-entered PIN against information encoded in the access message. If that information is authenticated, the portable terminal is connected to the secured device. The encoded access message is transferred from the terminal to the secured device, which compares an access code previously stored at that device with information contained in the access message. The proper PIN also is re-entered.

Abstract: This is a coin sorting and counting apparatus for providing very accurate high throughput processing of heterogeneous coin mixtures. A rotating drum having parallel annular channels, each of which has equally spaced counterbores located around it is rotated within a vacuum plenum. A novel sensor coil constructed as a balanced transformer of four coils having rectangular geometries is used, in conjunction with a dual frequency excitation signal, to detect at least three electronic signatures for each coin, the signatures are detected by separating the frequency components in the output of the sensor coil and obtaining a peak value for the excursion of the high frequency response caused by passage of the coin, and width values corresponding to the time the excursion of the signal was above a predetermined threshold for both the high and low frequency responsive channels.

Abstract: This is a coin sorting and counting apparatus for providing very accurate high throughput processing of heterogeneous coin mixtures. A rotating drum having parallel annular channels, each of which has equally spaced counterbores located around it is rotated within a vacuum plenum. A novel sensor coil constructed as a balanced transformer of four coils having rectangular geometries is used, in conjunction with a dual frequency excitation signal, to detect at least three electronic signatures for each coin, the signatures are detected by separating the frequency components in the output of the sensor coil and obtaining a peak value for the excursion of the high frequency response caused by passage of the coin, and width values corresponding to the time the excursion of the signal was above a predetermined threshold for both the high and low frequency responsive channels.

Abstract: This is a coin sorting and counting apparatus for providing very accurate high throughput processing of heterogeneous coin mixtures. A rotating drum having parallel annular channels, each of which has equally spaced counterbores located around it is rotated within a vacuum plenum. A novel sensor coil contructed as a balanced transformer of four coils having rectangular geometries is used, in conjuction with a dual frequency excitation signal, to detect at least three electronic signatures for each coin, the signatures are detected by separating the frequency components in the output of the sensor coil and obtaining a peak value for the excursion of the high frequency response caused by passage of the coin, and width values corresponding to the time the excursion of the signal was above a predetermined threshold for both the high and low frequency responsive channels.