Abstract: A method and apparatus for renewing software in a software-controlled machine is provided wherein a sensor 16 detects external command information to shift an operation control circuit 50 from an operating mode to a renewal mode, and then detects external operating data on software to store same from the sensor 16 in a program memory 53 of the renewal mode for easy renewal of the software in accordance with renewal control program. Then, the operation control circuit 50 is shifted from the renewal mode to the operating mode to operate the machine with the renewed operating data.

Abstract: A valuable paper is provided which comprises on a surface of the paper 50 a characteristic pattern 51 detectable by a sensor 16 of a validator 10 to discriminate authenticity of a bill inserted into the validator 10. The bill has at least a distinctive portion detectable by the sensor 16. The paper 50 has its width W substantially same as the width of the bill. The characteristic pattern 51 of the paper 50 is formed on substantially same position in width W as that of the distinctive portion in the bill. The paper 50 is inserted into the validator 10 to detect the characteristic pattern 51 of the paper 50 by the sensor 16 for discrimination of the paper 50 by the validator 10.

Abstract: A bill validator of master-slave type is provided for easy downloading. A master discriminating circuit (40) is switched from a validating mode to a master mode by operation of the master mode switch (48) to forward the download information to a slave discriminating circuit (40) according to the download program. The slave discriminating circuit (40) is switched from a validating mode to a slave mode by operation of the slave mode switch (49) so that the download information from the master discriminating circuit (40) is written according to the download program in the writable memory (43) of the slave discriminating circuit (40) via the download output terminal (44) of the master discriminating circuit (40) and the download input terminal (46) of the slave discriminating circuit (40).

Abstract: Provided adjacent to the passageway for the bill 14 is an image sensor 17 which converts symbols printed on the bill 14 into electric signals during movement of the bill 14 along a passageway by a conveyer 15. Printer 19 records on printing paper the symbols based on output signals of the image sensor 17. Thus, the symbols printed on the documents may automatically be recorded.

Abstract: A bill validator which may validate bills and bar coded documents is provided. A central processing unit of the bill validator comprises discriminator means for receiving outputs of sensor means for detecting magnetic or optical feature of the bills; and bar code detector for photoelectrically converting bar code pattern printed on a document. The discriminator means comprise an bar code comparator for receiving outputs of the optical sensors to detect bar code printed on a document; a magentic pattern memory for storing predetermined magnetic patterns; and bar code memory for storing predetermined bar code patterns. The bar code comparator compares bar code signals read out through optical sensors from the document with bar code signals stored in the bar code memory after or before the discriminator means decides whether the document is a genuine bill or not.