Abstract: A currency note acceptor for accepting currency notes, including: a housing defining a pathway for passage of an inserted currency note from an opening to a storage compartment; a currency note validator for examining and validating currency notes along the pathway; an obstruction operatively associated with the currency note validator, the obstruction being changeable between a first operative state to obstruct entry in and/or out of the storage compartment and a second operative state to allow passage of the currency note along the pathway into the storage compartment; wherein the acceptor is operable to: receive a currency note during a receiving phase; change the obstruction during an accepting phase such that it is in the second operative state following validation of the currency note to allow stowage of the note in the storage compartment; and subsequently change the obstruction such that it is in the first operative state during a subsequent receiving phase for a subsequent currency note.

Abstract: Currency note and ticket processing apparatus, includes a housing, and a currency note validator for examining and validating or rejecting currency notes. A redeemable ticket reader is provided for reading redeemable tickets, while a printer is included to prepare new redeemable tickets for issuance for later redemption. Further provided is structure defining one or more pathways within the housing and an opening in an external wall of the housing communicable with the pathway(s) whereby the opening is a common opening at which currency notes or redeemable tickets are inserted into the housing and conveyed respectively to and beyond the currency note validator and the redeemable ticket reader, and at which new redeemable tickets prepared by the printer are issued from the housing. Means is provided for driving currency notes or redeemable tickets along the pathway(s) to or from the common opening.