Abstract:
An image forming apparatus uses a plurality of image forming units that are arranged rotatable in a vertical plane such that the image forming units that shifted sequentially to an image forming position. Each image forming unit has a translucent toner detection window on its outer periphery for detecting the remaining amount of toner in a toner hopper. The image forming units will have a replacing position in which it will face an opening for allowing replacement of the image forming unit. The translucent detection window will face the opening when the image forming unit is in the replacing position.

Description:
This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/114,087 filed Jul. 10, 1998, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a machine for dispensing media, for example, a self service terminal (SST), which may be an automated teller machine (ATM). 
     ATMs are known and possess function controls to dispense cash, accept cash, accept cheques, issue receipts and issue bank statements as well as accept bills for payment. Other SSTs fulfill similar functions but do not deal with cash; an SST may dispense tickets or maps or prepaid cards such as telephone cards. Throughout this specification, the term media is used to include hard copies of printed information resulting from fulfillment of the functions stated for an ATM and an SST as well as cash in the form of bank notes. SSTs and ATMs may be operated by means of a card carrying data, for example magnetic data on the card or data on a semiconductor chip-bearing “Smart Card”, for identifying the user and authorizing his use. Alternatively, such machines may employ some other user identification and authorization means, such as a biometric means. 
     Generally speaking, in addition to necessary electronic circuitry and computer processor controls, an ATM comprises a user interface, a cash delivery slot and a presenter module, which includes a transport mechanism or media transporter for presenting media. The user interface may comprise a card input slot or other user identification means, a display screen and a keyboard pad. In operation, the transport mechanism transfers media from a processor within the ATM to an exit or presentation slot for a customer to remove. For security purposes, external access to the exit slot is usually prevented by at least one shutter which is normally closed and is only opened when media is transported to the exit slot for removal by a customer. 
     SSTs (including ATMs) are commonly situated behind a wall, the wall having an appropriate hole through which media is transported and dispensed (so-called “through the wall” installations). Walls for such purpose may be external or internal and may be of a thickness varying from a few millimetres to half a metre or more. SSTs are also often free standing for presenting media directly to the customer (so-called “interior/lobby” installations) without the need to transport the media through a wall. Thus, different installations may result in different distances between the position at which media is dispensed from the processor within the SST (“the media dispensing point”) and the position at which media is presented to the customer (“the media presentation point”). Until now, different transport mechanisms which are suitable for different installations have had to be developed and tested. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object to produce a machine for dispensing media, such as an ATM or an SST, having a media transporter which can be used in different types of installation. 
     According to the present invention there is provided a machine for dispensing media comprising a user interface means and a media transporter for transporting media from a media dispensing point along a media path to a media presentation point, characterized in that the media transporter comprises a variable length belt feed means which is adjustable between a first retracted position in which the media presentation point is adjacent the media dispensing point and a second protracted position in which the media presentation point is displaced from the media dispensing point. 
     By providing a variable length belt feed means, the media transporter can be adjusted to suit interior/lobby installations, where the media presentation point may be adjacent the media dispensing point, as well as through the wall installations, where the media is required to be transported through different wall thickness. 
     Preferably, the belt feed means comprises at least one endless feed belt supported on a carriage so as to define the media path, whereby movement of the carriage away from the media dispensing point causes an increase in the length of media path while the overall length of path of the feed belt remains constant. 
     By use of an endless feed belt supported in this manner, tension in the feed belt is automatically maintained upon adjustment without the need for a separate belt tensioning mechanism. 
     According to one form of the invention, the media is transported along the media path between two endless feed belts, which form a pinch region therebetween for gripping and transporting media from the media dispensing point to the media presentation point. 
     One of the feed belts may be resiliently moveable away from the other feed belt against the force of a biasing means to enable the media transporter to transport both a single sheet of media and a stack of media along the media path. 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, the variable length belt feed means moves from its retracted position to its protracted position when the media transporter is required to transport media. Preferably, there is provided a media presentation slot through which the belt feed means extends when in its protracted position. 
     By moving the belt feed means to its protracted position only when required to transport media, the belt feed means is kept safely away from the media presentation slot at all times when not in use, so reducing the opportunity for unwarranted fraudulent or vandalistic access to the belt feed means. 
     Furthermore, when operating currently available ATMs, media protrudes from the presentation slot a maximum presentation length of 18 mm and, whereas persons without handling disabilities are able to grasp such a protrusion, persons with handling disabilities, such as arthritis, may not be able to do so. Consequently, in certain countries, notably Australia and USA, manufacturers of ATMs and other machines for dispensing media, are required to conform to strict design guidelines and legislation necessitating media to protrude from the exit slot a distance of the order of 30 mm. By extending the belt feed means through the media presentation slot in accordance with this embodiment, the presenter module may present media a greater distance from the presentation slot than is possible with currently available machines. In this way, customers suffering from handling disabilities are more easily able to remove media from a machine. 
     A machine in accordance with this embodiment is preferably fitted with a shutter for opening and closing the media presentation slot and means for opening the shutter upon movement of belt feed means from its retracted position to its protracted position. 
     In this way, the shutter, which normally closes the media dispensing slot for security purposes, is opened at a time determined by the necessity to dispense media. 
     Conveniently, the belt feed means is mounted for angular movement about the media dispensing point to enable the media presentation point to be positioned at a variable angular displacement from the media dispensing point. 
     By mounting the belt feed means for angular movement about the media dispensing point, the presenter module may be adjusted to transport media to a media presentation point which may be higher or lower than the media dispensing point, to suit the particular installation. Furthermore, such an arrangement would allow the possibility of producing an SST having a media presentation point or even a complete fascia which is adjustable in height, or which is pivotable, to allow operation of the machine at a comfortable height or angle for all users, tall and short alike. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Transport mechanisms designed for use with an ATM in accordance with the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective of an ATM having a card reader and a cash dispensing slot; 
     FIG. 2 shows a control system for an ATM; 
     FIG. 3 is a part longitudinal section of a previously proposed transport mechanism for an ATM in a through the wall installation; 
     FIG. 4 is a part longitudinal section of the transport mechanism and cash delivery slot of an ATM according to the invention in a through the wall installation; 
     FIG. 5 is a part longitudinal section similar to FIG. 4 in an interior/lobby installation; 
     FIG. 6 is a part longitudinal section of a second embodiment of a transport mechanism and cash delivery slot of an ATM according to the invention in a through the wall installation; 
     FIG. 7 is a part longitudinal section of a previously proposed transport mechanism for an ATM included for comparative purposes; 
     FIG. 8 is a part longitudinal section of a third embodiment of the transport mechanism showing a retractable carriage in a retracted position; 
     FIG. 9 is a part longitudinal section similar to FIG. 8 with the retractable carriage in a media present position; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective from above, considered with respect to FIGS. 8 and 9, of the retractable carriage removed from the transport mechanism; 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective from below, considered with respect to FIGS. 8 and 9, of the retractable carriage removed from the transport mechanism; 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective of a top guide of the retractable carriage of FIGS. 8 and 9; 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective from above of a solenoid operated shutter and linkage of the retractable carriage of FIGS. 8 and 9; 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective from above of the transport mechanism of FIGS. 8 and 9 with the retractable carriage removed, and FIG. 15 is a part exploded perspective similar to FIG. 14 with one side frame panel of the transport mechanism removed and showing upper and lower fixed guides which guide movement of the retractable carriage between the positions depicted in FIGS.  8  and  9 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Throughout the following description, the same reference numbers will be used for the same corresponding parts in the several Figures. 
     FIG. 1 shows an ATM  10  having a magnetic card input slot  12 , a display screen  14 , a keypad  16 , and a media presentation or dispensing slot  20  such as a cash delivery slot. 
     A control system for the ATM  10  is shown in FIG. 2, in which a processor  22  is connected to receive input from the key pad  16 , to control the display  14  and to control a cash counting and delivery system  24  connected to the cash dispensing slot  20 . The processor  22  is connected by a connection  26  to a central authorization system of the financial institution operating ATM  10 . 
     A card reader  30  is also connected to the processor  22 , the card reader  30  having a standard data head  32 , a standard mechanical drive  34  to drive a card into and out of the reader  30 , and a card damage detector  36 . 
     FIG. 3 shows part of the presenter module and cash delivery slot of a conventional ATM  10  in a through the wall installation. The cash delivery slot  20  is formed at a suitable position in a fascia wall  21  which is mounted flush with the exterior side of an external wall  23  to form a closure to a hole  25  therein. The cash delivery slot  20  is opened and closed by two shutters, namely, a fascia shutter  20 A and an inner shutter  20 B. The shutters  20 A and  20 B are mounted in known manner for covering and uncovering the media dispensing slot  20  in accordance with instructions received from the processor  22  and in response to a signal received from a sensor, not shown. The wall  23  is of standard construction and has a thickness of the order of  33 cm. The transport mechanism comprises two endless feed belts  38  and  40  supported on upper and lower pulleys  42  and  44  respectively, the feed belts forming a pinch region between themselves for gripping and transporting cash from a position at which cash is processed and dispensed within the ATM (not shown), through the hole  25  to the cash delivery slot  20 . 
     The transport mechanism of FIG. 3 is designed specifically for a through the wall installation, where the wall  23  is of the specified thickness and the cash delivery slot  20  is at a suitable height. It would be wholly unsuitable for installations where the wall thickness is greater or less since this would result in the transport mechanism either stopping short of the cash delivery slot  20  or extending through the fascia wall  21 . For this reason, installations having different wall thicknesses require different transport mechanisms. 
     In order to overcome the expense of designing, manufacturing, testing and installing a whole range of different transport mechanisms for different installations, the present inventors have invented an adjustable transport mechanism which may be used in many different installations having different wall thicknesses. One embodiment may be used in installations having different exit slot heights, and even presents the possibility of providing SSTs having fully adjustable fascia heights or angles. 
     A machine according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 shows the transport mechanism T and cash delivery slot  20  of an ATM according to the invention in a through the wall installation. As in FIG. 3, the cash delivery slot  20  is formed at a suitable position in the fascia wall  21  which forms a closure to hole  25  in wall  23 . No shutters are shown in FIG. 4, though clearly shutters could be fitted. The wall  23  is of standard construction and has a thickness of the order of 33 cm. The transport mechanism T comprises upper and lower endless feed belts  38  and  40  each supported on two respective series of pulleys  31 , 35 , 43  and  33 , 37 , 45 . The pulleys comprise two pairs  31 / 33  and  43 / 45 , a pinch region being formed between the feed belts supported on the pulleys of each pair, and two belt take-up pulleys  35  and  37 . A media path P is defined by the pinch region between the feed belts supported between the two pairs of pulleys  31 / 33  and  43 / 45 . 
     The first pair of the pulleys  31  and  33  are fixed at a position  29 , at which cash is dispensed after processing within the ATM. The second pair of pulleys  43  and  45  are mounted on a carriage (not shown) which is reciprocally moveable backwards or forwards (left or right as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5) between a first retracted position in which the pulleys  43  and  45  are adjacent the fixed pulleys  31  and  33  and a second protracted position in which the pulleys  43  and  45  are displaced from the fixed pulleys by a predetermined distance depending on the maximum wall thickness that an ATM is envisaged to be installed behind. As shown in FIG. 4, pulleys  43  and  45  are displaced from the fixed pulleys  31  and  33  and are located into position behind the cash delivery slot  20  in fascia wall  21 , such that the media path P substantially spans the thickness of the wall  23 . The belt take up pulleys  35  and  37  are mounted on the same carriage as pulleys  43  and  45  at a position suitable to take up any slack in the feed belts  38  and  40 . As the belt take up pulleys  35  and  37  are mounted on the same carriage, no matter what position the carriage is in, the length of path of the feed belts always remains the same, and hence tension in the feed belts remains constant. A further feed mechanism  39  dispenses cash to the position  29  after it has been processed by the ATM. 
     When required to deliver cash, the ATM processes the required amount and dispenses the cash to position  29  by means of feed mechanism  39 . At position  29  the cash is fed to the pinch region between the feed belts supported between pulleys  31  and  33  of the transport mechanism. The transport mechanism is then actuated by means of a sensor (not shown) and the feed belts  38  and  40  are driven around the pulleys in a direction to transport the cash along the media path P from position  29 , through the hole  25  in wall  23  to a position at which the cash  27  is presented to the user through the cash delivery slot  20  as shown, at which point the transport mechanism is stopped by means of another sensor (not shown). 
     FIG. 5 shows the same transport mechanism of an ATM according to the invention but this time in an interior/lobby installation, where there is no wall  23  and the cash delivery slot  20  is close to the position  29  at which cash is dispensed by the feed mechanism  39  after processing within the ATM. In this case, the carriage on which pulleys  43  and  45  are mounted is in a retracted position in which pulleys  43  and  45  are located adjacent the fixed pulleys  31  and  33  and behind the cash delivery slot  20  in fascia wall  21 . As the belt take up pulleys  35  and  37  are mounted on the same carriage, they are also in a retracted position, and the tension in the feed belts remains constant. 
     It will be appreciated that the transport mechanism described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 may be used for interior/lobby installations (as in FIG. 5) or through the wall installations (as in FIG. 4) where the wall is of anything up to the predetermined thickness described above. Furthermore, as an alternative construction, instead of being mounted on the same carriage as pulleys  43  and  45 , the belt take up pulleys  35  and  37  may be mounted on a linkage connected to the carriage, to enable the take up pulleys to be moveable in a different direction to the carriage, depending on the space available in a particular installation, while still performing the function of maintaining constant tension in the feed belts. 
     FIG. 6 shows a transport mechanism of an ATM similar to that shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, but with the further modification of the carriage, on which pulleys  35 ,  37 ,  43  and  45  are mounted, being tiltable about a pivot point located at position  29 . Thus, not only may the pulleys  43  and  45  be displaced away from the fixed pulleys  31  and  33  and located into position behind the cash delivery slot  20  in fascia wall  21  as described above and as depicted by the dotted lines in FIG. 6, but by angular movement of the carriage about its pivot point, the pulleys  43  and  45  may also be moved up or down so as to locate behind a cash delivery slot  20  which is higher or lower (as is the case depicted by solid lines in FIG.  6 ). 
     It will be clear to persons skilled in the art that the transport mechanism described with reference to FIG. 6 also presents the possibility of providing an ATM having a fascia which is adjustable in height or angle within the limits of movement governed by the carriage. 
     FIG. 7 shows the business and delivery end of another previously proposed transport mechanism installed in an ATM  10 . As described above with reference to FIG. 3, the dispensing slot  20  is formed in a safe wall  21  and is opened and closed by a fascia shutter  20 A and an inner shutter  20 B. The shutters  20 A and  20 B are mounted in known manner for covering and uncovering the media dispensing slot  20  in accordance with instructions received from the processor  22  and in response to a signal received from a sensor, not shown. The sensor has a center line AB positioned to sense a leading edge of the media to be dispensed between a pinch point of upper  38  and lower  40  transporter belts supported on upper  42  and lower  44  pulleys. 
     Generally speaking small banknotes dispensed long-edge leading by the ATM  10  of FIG. 7 have a minimum width of 54 mm. The wall thickness of the safe conventionally provided in an ATM is about 12.7 mm, and the cash delivery slot is protected by shutters  20 A and  20  B, so that having regard to the dimensions given in FIG. 7, the media will protrude a maximum distance of 54−36=18 mm, from the fascia shutter  20 A. In the introductory part of this specification reference was made to certain countries, notably Australia and USA, establishing guidelines necessitating an increase in the minimum presentational projection of media to assist disabled persons to operate ATMs. FIG. 7 also indicates the safe wall having a thickness 10.7 mm and the distance from the internal face of the safe wall to the outer face of the fascia shutter  20 A to be 23.4 mm. 
     To meet the requirements of those guidelines, a transport mechanism according to the invention including a retractable carriage which is displaceable may present media a distance of the order of 30 mm or more from the fascia shutter  20 A. Such a transport mechanism including a retractable carriage is shown in FIGS. 8 to  15 . 
     Referring to FIG. 8 a transport mechanism T has a retractable carriage R shown in a retracted non-media presentation position with an angularly displaceable shutter  20 B in a closed position. The retractable carriage R has two identical chassis side plates  46  (see also FIGS. 9,  10  and  11 ) disposed with running clearance outboard of each longitudinal edge of upper and lower continuous belts  38  and  40  respectively. The chassis side plates  46  are maintained in spaced parallel relationship by upper  48  and lower  50  belt guides (see also FIGS. 10 and 11) as well as roller shafts  52  and  54  on which rollers  56 , 56 ′ are mounted and over which the belts  38  and  40  are passed as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. 
     The upper belt guide  48  is fixed between the chassis side plates  46  whereas the lower belt guide  50  is angularly displaceable about axle  50 ′, see FIGS. 8,  9 ,  10  and  11 . In order to maintain a nip between upper and lower belts  38  and  40  passing over rollers  58  and  60  during dispensation of media, a torsion spring  50 TS, see FIGS. 10 and 11, supported on axle  50 ′ biases the lower belt guide  50  clockwise as viewed in FIGS. 8,  9  and  11 . Angular displacement of the lower belt guide  50  permits media having a minimum thickness of 0.1 mm and a stack of media up to a maximum thickness of 10.0 mm to be dispensed. The positions of the lower guide belt  50  for dispensing minimum and maximum amounts of media are shown at Z 1  and Z 2  respectively in FIGS. 8 and 9. 
     As shown in FIGS. 8,  9 ,  14  and  15 , the upper  38  and lower  40  belts (omitted for clarity in FIGS. 14,  15 ), are additionally supported on upper  62  and lower  64  rollers which, in turn are supported on axles  66  and  68  respectively. The axles  66 / 68  respectively act as spacers for two side panels  70  of the transport mechanism T. 
     The retractable carriage R is reciprocally movable between the retracted position of FIG.  8  and the media present position of FIG. 9 by means of a stepper motor, not shown, which drives two trains of three gears  72 ,  74  and  76 —see FIGS. 8,  9 ,  14  and  15 . Each gear train is supported as shown in the side panels  70  (see particularly FIGS. 14 and 15) and the two gears  72  which are driving gears, are mounted on a common driving shaft  78 . Three rollers  78 A are also mounted on the driving shaft  78  and these rollers support the travel path of the upper belt  38  as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. During reciprocal movements, the retractable carriage R slides between pairs of upper  80  and lower  82  guides carried by the side plates  70  of the transport mechanism T. The upper  80  and lower  82  guides each have two U-shaped cut-outs  84  (shown dotted in FIGS. 8 and 9 and in full lines in FIG. 15) for receiving a roller  85 —see FIGS.  14  and  15 —of a shutter linkage mechanism to be described later. 
     The amount of reciprocal movement of the retractable carriage R is governed by: 
     I. a pin  86  (see FIGS. 8,  9  and  15 ) fixed to each gear  76  of the two gear trains  72 ,  74 ,  76  and movable within slots  88  formed in each chassis plate  46  of the retractable carriage R—see also FIGS. 10 and 11; 
     II. a pin  90  (see FIGS. 8,  9  and  15 ) fixed to each side plate  70  of the transport mechanism T acts as a guide within a slot  92  (see also FIGS. 10 and 11) cut in each chassis side plate  46 , the longitudinal sides of the slots  92  serve to guide reciprocal movements of the retractable carriage R and the ends of the slots  92  determine the extent of reciprocal movement of the carriage R, and 
     III. a pin  94  (see FIGS. 8,  9  and  15 ) fixed to each side plate  70  of the transport mechanism T acts as a guide within an open-ended slot  96  formed in each chassis plate  46 . The open ended slots  96  are shown in dotted lines in FIGS. 8 and 9 and in full lines in FIGS. 10 and 11. 
     During forward movement of the retractable carriage R from the position shown in FIG. 8 to that shown in FIG. 9 to present media to a user through the dispensing slot  20 , the upper and lower belts  38 / 40  effectively unwrap from appropriate series of pulleys ( 58 ,  56 ′,  62 ) and ( 60 ,  56 ,  64 ) thus maintaining constant tension in and preventing additional stretching of the upper and lower belts  38 / 40 . 
     During movement of the retractable carriage R from the position shown in FIG. 8 to that shown in FIG. 9, the shutter  20 B is angularly displaced to permit presentation of media through the media dispensing slot  20 . Angular displacement of the shutter  20 B is effected via two multi-link linkages driven by a ram solenoid  5  and will now be described. 
     FIG. 13 shows the shutter  20 B and the multi-link linkages in perspective and, for balanced operation of the shutter  20 B, each end position of the shutter is attached to corresponding links of each linkage. 
     Corresponding links in each linkage are designated by the same reference number. Each linkage has three links  900 ,  901  and  902  with links  900  attached to the shutter  20 B and pivotally connected at  903  to links  901 . The link  902  is, as shown, of U-shape with legs  902 A pivotally connected at  904  to the links  901 . A driving link  905  having a tongue  905 A is also pivotally connected to the first  904  as well as to a solenoid plunger SP. Each link  900  has a hole  900 A for receiving a pin  94 ′ (see FIG. 15) which acts as a fulcrum for the shutter during movement of the retractable carriage R. Each arm  902 A of the link  902  has a hole  902 B for mounting on a roller  85  which, as a previously described, is located in a U-shaped cut-out  84  in the upper guide  80 . Each link  901  is formed with detents  901 A (shown dotted in FIGS. 8 and 9 and in full lines in FIGS. 13,  14  and  15 ) and, as seen in FIGS. 8 and 15, engages with the pin  90  which acts both as a fulcrum and a stop for the links  901  in the closed position of the shutter  20 B. 
     Operation of each linkage  900 ,  901  and  902  and, consequently, the shutter  20 B is controlled by energization of the solenoid  5  and the position of each linkage is sensed by the sensor SR 1  according to whether the tongue  905 A is in the position shown in FIG. 8 (shutter closed) or FIG. 9 (shutter open). 
     Energization of the solenoids is synchronized with the operation of the stepper motor, not shown, which drives the gear trains  72 ,  74 ,  76  and, consequently, the retractable carriage from the position shown in FIG. 8 to that of FIG.  9  and vice versa. 
     In addition to the sensor SR 1  which detects, as indicated above, the position of the linkage  900 ,  901 ,  902  and the shutter  20 B, a second sensor SR 2  (see FIG. 12) serves to detect when media has been removed from the ATM  10 . The sensor SR 2  is carried by the upper guide plate  48  and has a sensor arm  800  which is pivotally mounted on axle  801 —see FIG.  12 . The sensor arm has a tongue  800 A which, on pivotal movement of the sensor arm  800 , is positioned either “in” or “out-of” a sensor yoke  800 B. FIGS. 8 and 9 show the “in” and “out-of” positions of the sensor tongue  800 A in dotted lines as well as the multi-cranked shape of the sensing arm  800 , a part- 800 C of which (see FIGS. 8,  9 ) senses when media has been removed from the exit slot  20  of the ATM  10 . 
     From the foregoing description of the present invention, it will be appreciated that the carriage R is moved from the position of FIG. 8 to that of FIG. 9 by the stepper motor, not shown, which drives the carriage R through gear trains  72 ,  74 ,  76  and pin/slot  86 / 88  when the shutter  20 B is open. The carriage R includes upper and lower media guides  48 / 50  fitted with pulleys  58  and  60  respectively and two idler shafts  52 / 54  which are also fitted with pulleys  56 ′ and  56  respectively. The carriage R contains loops of the transport belts  38  and  40  which are wrapped around a series of pulleys as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The pulleys  58  and  60  carried by the media guides  48 / 50  are capable of entering the safe opening  20  while containing a minimum of 0.1 mm thick media document and a maximum stack of 10 mm thick media. When the carriage moves forward from the position of FIG. 8 to that of FIG. 9 the belts  38 / 40  in effect unwrap from the pulleys  56 ′ and  56  thus maintaining constant tension and reducing additional stretch in the belts  38 / 40  during carriage movement. The carriage R also contains a sensing device SR 2  for detecting when media has been removed, whereafter the carriage R is retracted and the shutter  20 B is closed for security. 
     The invention has been described with reference to an ATM arranged to dispense small banknotes long-edge leading. It may also be applied to an ATM arranged so as to dispense small-size receipts or to an SST arranged to dispense small-size tickets or the like, tickets may be as small as a conventional credit card; or the SST may dispense e.g. prepaid telephone cards or the like, of similar size to a credit card.