Abstract: Method for automatically ascertaining the number of people and/or objects present in a gate (10; 50; 70) which has the following steps: detection of weight data for people and/or objects moving in the gate (10; 50; 70) by means of a plurality of weight sensors (18, 20, 22, 24) integrated in the floor of the gate (10; 50; 70) and evaluation of the detected weight data in order to ascertain the number of people/objects from their maximum values and from their dynamics and/or the number of detected centres of gravity and/or the position of the weight sensors (18, 20, 22, 24) which have detected the weight data, and/or the order in which the weight sensors (18, 20, 22, 24) have detected the weight data.

Abstract: An arrangement including several cashier vending-type machines for goods and services. Each machine, in addition to having at least one cash box, also has not only several replaceable and preferably self-filling coin-storing units for returning or refunding money, but also has a computer that controls the machine, produces a balance, and is provided with a random access memory that is protected against the loss of power. To prevent deceitful manipulations by operators, and to enable a clear determination of error while precluding human error during use, without requiring additional work, each coin-storing unit is provided with an electronic memory that is protected against loss of data and that, upon insertion of that unit into a machine, stores a coding that identifies the machine.

Abstract: A vending-type machine for goods and/or services, and a method of operating the same. The machine has a computer that is connected via a data communication line with a central computer located in a central office. In order, despite the absence of an intermediate cash box for bills received during an interrupted payment process, to be able to protect against fraudulent refunds for equivalent values on vouchers issued by such machines, a plain language as well as machine-readable coded data entry is printed on the voucher, with this data entry, in addition to the value of the bill, also containing the location indication of the particular machine, and the actual date and time in seconds. This data entry is entered in a data-protected memory of the machine, and is entered via the data communication line in a data-protected memory of the central computer.