Abstract: A vending machine includes a coin handler, a bill handler, and a vending machine controller (VMC). The bill handler communicates with the coin handler and the VMC. The bill handler includes a bill recycler and a controller. The controller receives a Coin Tubes message from the coin handler. The Coin Tubes message includes information about a coin denomination available for dispensing in the coin handler. The controller produces a second Coin Tubes message by adding information about a bill denomination available for dispensing in the bill handler to the first Coin Tubes message. The controller sends the second Coin Tubes message to the VMC. The controller receives a Change Issue message from the VMC, that identifies an amount of money to be dispensed from the vending machine. In response, the controller causes the bill recycler to dispense at least one bill.

Abstract: Vending machine system with a vending machine which comprises an interface for a communication with a coin validator/money changer and a counterfeit money detector/recycler, a communication interface being provided between the money changer and the recycler and an audit unit being provided in the vending machine with a communication interface for reading data of the vending machine, characterised in that a second audit unit is provided which is connected to the communication interface of the first audit unit, the second audit unit is connected to the connection of the money changer and the recycler as well as a communication interface for reading data from the vending machine, money changer and counterfeit money detector.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mobile data recording medium, in particular a data card, comprising a memory field having a number of bits which can be read, cleared and reloaded by means of a data exchange device, wherein the memory field includes a first memory region having a number of memory locations, each having at least a bit, each bit representing a value unit and each memory location representing a predetermined time interval, and that the memory field includes a second memory region having a plurality of bits which second memory region represents a time period predetermined by its beginning and its length, wherein the length of the time period is a multiple of said predetermined time interval.

Abstract: Metal slabs are cooled on a bed across which they are conveyed in a stepwise manner. The slabs are received on a number of first beams which move along a closed path having components in both a vertical and a horizontal direction. For part of the movement path of the first beams, the slabs are supported on second beams. The beams are themselves supported from below by pressure medium cylinders and have shoulders for supporting the slabs on edge. The stroke of the cylinders, producing the vertical movement of the firstbeam must be greater than the height of the shoulders.