Patent ID: 8096400

Claim:
A security gate mechanism for a currency handling apparatus having a currency passageway comprising: a rotatable gate having a slit therein, wherein the slit is aligned with the currency passageway when the rotatable gate is in an initial position; a drive wheel comprising a toothed gear having a step gear incorporated thereon, wherein the drive wheel is coupled to the rotatable gate for driving the rotatable gate in first and second directions, and wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction; and a positioning member selectively engageable with the drive wheel for positioning the rotatable gate in the initial position such that the slit in the rotatable gate is substantially aligned with the passageway; wherein the positioning member is arranged to be engageable with the drive wheel when the drive wheel rotates the rotatable gate in the second direction and not engageable with the drive wheel when the drive wheel rotates the rotatable gate in the first direction.