Abstract: A note picker mechanism for picking new and circulated paper money bills from stacks thereof through access openings of sealed, tamper-indicating containers for the notes when installed in ATM's. The mechanism has a primary suction picker device and a secondary friction-engaging picker device. The friction-engaging picker is switchably engaged with or disengaged from the suction picker so that if a picking failure occurs, the picker mechanism is automatically changed from joint operation of the primary and secondary picker to operation of the primary picker alone, or vice versa, to correct the cause of the picking failure.

Abstract: Overlapped or folded bills in a paper money dispenser are detected by sensors that measure bill length and thickness. The sensors generate a first signal when bill thickness corresponds to the thickness of at least one standard bill and generate a second signal when bill thickness corresponds to at least twice standard bill thickness. A third signal is generated when bill thickness corresponds to at least three times standard bill thickness. The first and second signals, together with a fourth signal corresponding to the bill length, are supplied to a computer that identifies single or double bills as well as overlapped or folded bills and jammed bills. Bill count is incremented in response to identification of single or dispensable double bills. Overlapped bills, folded bills, double bills that cannot be dispensed, triple bills or suspicious bills are diverted to a storage canister.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing precast, prestressed, hollow-core, concrete slabs, including an extruder which is movable along a fixed casting bed to extrude from a relatively dry concrete mix a slab having longitudinally extending hollow cores and grout keyways extending along the slab sides. Multiple, core-forming augers in the extruder are shaped and positioned with respect to a feed opening in the extruder in a manner which eliminates cavitations in the slab and provides smooth, well formed slab surfaces and proper bonding between the concrete and prestressing wires.

Abstract: In a structural framework which includes precast, concrete columns an improved connector is provided for transferring the load of superimposed columns to those beneath them. The connector consists of a spindle which is received in hollow cores of the columns and a sleeve within and to which the spindle is positioned and connected in any convenient manner, such as by a press fit, plug or spot welds. The sleeve transfers the vertical load from one column to another and incremental washers may be utilized intermediate an upper end of the sleeve and a lower end of a column to adjust the vertical elevation of an upper column.