Patent ID: 7669757

Claim:
Apparatus comprising: a customer-accessible facility, wherein the facility includes: a merchandise order station, wherein the merchandise order station includes an automated transaction machine including: a housing having a secure chest portion; at least one output device operative to provide instructions to customers of the facility, wherein the at least one output device includes a touchscreen display, wherein the machine is operative to offer a plurality of merchandise items for sale to a customer through the touchscreen display by simultaneously displaying on the touchscreen display corresponding representative visual images of the merchandise items, wherein a customer tactually selects a particular merchandise item for order by touching a displayed representative visual image of the particular merchandise item, wherein the machine is operative to display through the touchscreen display a cost associated with at least one ordered merchandise item; a card reader operative to read data on cards corresponding to at least one non-cash source of monetary value; wherein the machine is operative to cause the cost to be assessed to the non-cash source of monetary value through communication between the machine and at least one remote computer; a cash acceptor operative to receive at least one currency note, to evaluate each note, and to separate suspected invalid notes from valid notes, wherein the machine is operative to determine a total value associated with valid notes received from a customer, wherein the machine is operative to cause the cost to be deducted from the total value; a cash recycler, wherein the cash recycler extends in the chest portion, wherein the cash recycler is operative to selectively dispense cash stored in the chest portion, and wherein the cash recycler is operative to receive valid notes from the cash acceptor through an opening in the chest portion and store the valid notes for dispense to subsequent customers; and a merchandise delivery station where merchandise items are receivable by customers of the facility, wherein the merchandise delivery station is disposed from the merchandise order station enabling one customer to provide inputs at the merchandise order station while another customer receives ordered merchandise items at the merchandise delivery station.