Abstract: A vending machine for tokens, coins or the like incorporating a bill acceptor, a supply hopper, a dispensing unit, and a pair of delivery chambers, by which a programmable quantity of tokens are delivered to a delivery tray in accordance with the programming of a control system. An intermediate hopper located between the supply hopper and the dispensing unit facilitates disassembly of the apparatus without requiring the supply hopper to be emptied.

Abstract: A bulk loaded coin dispensing machine maintains a supply of coins to be dispensed in a bulk loaded magazine made up of a plurality of layers of coin rolls or tubes, each layer having plural rows and columns of coin tubes resting directly on each other, without intervening portions among the tubes. Coin tubes are stripped from the magazine a row at a time, and then carried by a transport conveyor and an elevator to a dispensing mechanism. The magazine carrier is movable independently of the stripper, conveyor and elevator to allow inventory replacement, and the stripper and conveyor are vertically adjustable in accordance with the decreasing height of the magazine as the coin rolls are dispensed. The stripper, conveyor, elevator and dispenser are operable asynchronously under control of a microprocessor.

Abstract: A method of identifying and designating one of a plurality of denominations of a bill or other paper currency, and apparatus therefor, scans a line along the length of the bill, and stores significant pulses in the scanning signal. The position of the significant pulses are modified, in accordance with identified characteristics of the bill which is scanned, and then compared with stored values for the expected locations of key ones of such pulses. Coincidences with the key pulses are counted, and secondary pulses, which are significant pulses occurring between key pulses are also counted. Both counts are relied on in identifying the correct denomination.