Abstract: A vending machine with a security barrier and a wireless-enabled currency acceptor is disclosed. The security barrier comprises a mechanical enclosure that surrounds, and restricts access to, items within the vending machine. The items enclosed in the vending machine inside the security barrier include a product, a currency acceptor, and a currency within the currency acceptor. Mechanical access through the security barrier is provided through a locked access port. The vending machine includes a wireless connectivity device that is coupled to the currency acceptor within the security barrier. The wireless connectivity device provides for password-protected wireless access to the currency acceptor from outside the security barrier. Also disclosed is a method of limiting access to items stored within a vending machine that includes programming the currency acceptor to provide currency acceptor data to the wireless connectivity device.

Abstract: A ticket printer includes a housing having a frame and a front panel concurrently formed as a single unit. A printer unit is positioned in the housing and includes a print body and swing assembly having a print roller head. The swing assembly can be selectively rotated away from the print body for maintenance and cleaning. A paper guide, located at an outlet side of the printer unit, is positioned within the housing. Paper is routed between the print roller head and the print body of the printer unit. The paper guide directs the paper along a paper pathway and out of a ticket outlet in the front panel. The paper guide may be transparent to visualize jammed paper in the paper pathway. Paper directing ramps formed in the swing assembly and the paper guide direct the paper into the paper pathway and downwardly to the ticket outlet.

Abstract: An automobile headliner assembly for motor vehicles is adapted to store a plurality of compact discs. Located directly above the vehicles sun visor on both the passenger and driver side is an assembly including an outer fabric cover. The outer fabric cover includes an upper fabric member having a continuous length. The upper fabric member is folded over itself to define a plurality of shingled pockets. Each pocket includes an opening for receiving one of the pluralities of compact discs.

Abstract: A note stacker mechanism having a rotary motor with a shaft, a crank arm mounted onto the motor shaft, and a telescoping drive mechanism actuated by the crank arm for pushing a bank note into a storage box. Simplicity of design results in a low cost, compact stacker mechanism.

Abstract: Apparatus for validating paper currency banknotes and for forming a stack of such banknotes for removal from the apparatus. The apparatus includes a removable stacker box, a note acceptor for validating a paper currency banknote inserted in the apparatus, a transport mechanism for carrying the validated banknote to the stacker box, and a drive assembly including a motor and a pusher rod coupled to the motor for reciprocation thereby. The currency stacker box is in the form of an enclosed housing containing a holding plate, a pair of carrier belts and associated guide members, and a pusher plate. The housing includes a first small access opening, and a narrow slot through which the banknotes are introduced edgewise for engagement by the carrier belts. The carrier belts carry the validated banknote in front of the pusher plate. The pusher rod is arranged to extend through the small access opening in the currency stacker box when the stacker box is mounted in the apparatus.

Abstract: A note acceptor for validating a paper currency note introduced therein. The acceptor includes a note validator unit and plural, interchangeable nose-pieces for releasable mounting on the validator unit. The validator unit includes a housing having a path extending through it, a conveyor for moving a paper currency note along the path, and plural optical and magnetic sensors to sense features of the note conveyed along the path. The path is of a width sufficient to accommodate the widest of any paper currency note to be validated. Each nose-piece forms a respective entrance port and note-guide to the path in the validator by defining a channel of a predetermined width corresponding to the width of an associated sized paper currency note. By mounting a nose-piece designed for a particular sized paper currency onto the validator housing, the resulting acceptor is configured to handle that size paper currency. When the nose piece is removed the validator is arranged to accept the largest size currency note.

Abstract: A paper currency handling apparatus including a stacker or cash box, a note acceptor for validating a paper currency banknote inserted into the acceptor, and a transport and punch plate mechanism located within an openable cover of the apparatus for carrying the validated banknote into the stacker box. The stacker box is arranged to securely store a stack of paper currency banknotes therein and is a hollow body having a wall with entrance window located therein through which a validated banknote is introduced by the punch plate of the apparatus. The cash box also includes a releasably securable mechanism for releasably securing the box to the apparatus, and a releasably securable security plate. The security plate is arranged to be oriented in a first orientation and then slid into the box to a sealing position to completely close the window.