Patent ID: 7344065

Claim:
A method comprising: a) moving a gate member controlling access through an opening in a housing of an automated banking machine responsive to operation of at least one processor in the machine, wherein the gate member is moved from a closed position wherein the gate member blocks access through the opening, to an open position; b) subsequent to (a) and with the gate member in the open position, operating the machine responsive to the at least one processor, to extend a stack comprising at least one currency bill outward from the machine through the opening, whereby the stack is enabled to be taken by a machine user from outside the machine; c) during at least a portion of (b), moving the gate member towards the closed position, wherein the gate member is biased into supporting connection with the stack; d) during at least a portion of (c) generating through at least one sensor in operative connection with the gate member, at least one signal corresponding to the extent the gate member is disposed from a reference position; and e) analyzing the at least one signal generated in (d) through operation of the at least one processor to determine if the at least one signal corresponds to at least one suspect condition.