According to one embodiment, a checkout apparatus includes a coin change machine configured to dispense stored coins as change, a bill change machine configured to dispense stored bills as change, a change calculation unit configured to calculate a change amount, a first determination unit configured to determine whether the amount of coins is equal to or more than an amount of a minimum amount bill, a second determination unit configured to determine whether the calculated change amount is equal to or more than the amount of the minimum amount bill, and a change unit configured to output, to the coin change machine, a coin dispensing signal for dispensing, with coins, an amount not exceeding an amount of deposited coins and equal to or more than the amount of the minimum amount bill in the change amount.

A speedy and efficient checkout process at a checkout counter in a store is realized by a deposit machine that receives deposited money from a customer and issues a pre-deposit receipt with which a pre-deposit amount is associated, and a POS register that scans a barcode of a commodity to calculate a checkout amount and reads a pre-deposit receipt to specify a pre-deposit amount. The POS register performs a checkout process for the checkout amount by using the pre-deposit amount, calculates, as change, a difference between the pre-deposit amount and the checkout amount, and causes a change machine to dispense money corresponding to the change.

A speedy and efficient checkout process at a checkout counter in a store is realized by a deposit machine that receives deposited money from a customer and issues a pre-deposit receipt with which a pre-deposit amount is associated, and a POS register that scans a barcode of a commodity to calculate a checkout amount and reads a pre-deposit receipt to specify a pre-deposit amount. The POS register performs a checkout process for the checkout amount by using the pre-deposit amount, calculates, as change, a difference between the pre-deposit amount and the checkout amount, and causes a change machine to dispense money corresponding to the change.

A change machine includes a denomination discriminating unit to discriminate denominations of deposited coins or bills, a counting unit to count the number of the coins or the bills for each of the denominations, a storage unit to store a limit number of the coins or the bills, a number determining unit to determine a denomination of the coins or the bills, the number of which counted in one transaction reached the limit number, an operator determining unit to determine which of a customer and a store staff member deposited the coins or the bills, and a deposit control unit to, if the customer deposited the coins or the bills, return the coins or the bills of the denomination and, if the store staff member deposited the coins or the bills, allows storage of the coins or the bills of the denomination.

A change machine includes a denomination discriminating unit to discriminate denominations of deposited coins or bills, a counting unit to count the number of the coins or the bills for each of the denominations, a storage unit to store a limit number of the coins or the bills, a number determining unit to determine a denomination of the coins or the bills, the number of which counted in one transaction reached the limit number, an operator determining unit to determine which of a customer and a store staff member deposited the coins or the bills, and a deposit control unit to, if the customer deposited the coins or the bills, return the coins or the bills of the denomination and, if the store staff member deposited the coins or the bills, allows storage of the coins or the bills of the denomination.

A coin change machine includes a reception counting unit to count types and the numbers of received coins, a storage state calculating unit to accumulate a counting result of the reception counting unit to thereby calculate types and the numbers of stored coins, a dispensing counting unit to count types and the numbers of dispensed or collected coins and an illumination control unit to turn on LEDs, which illuminate the inside of a storing unit, on condition that a lid covering the storing unit for coins is opened, if the types and the numbers of the coins calculated by the storage state calculating unit and the types and the numbers of the coins counted by the dispensing counting unit if the coins are collected or instructed dispensing content and the types and the number of the coins counted by the dispensing counting unit, are inconsistent.

A coin change machine includes a reception counting unit to count types and the numbers of received coins, a storage state calculating unit to accumulate a counting result of the reception counting unit to thereby calculate types and the numbers of stored coins, a dispensing counting unit to count types and the numbers of dispensed or collected coins and an illumination control unit to turn on LEDs, which illuminate the inside of a storing unit, on condition that a lid covering the storing unit for coins is opened, if the types and the numbers of the coins calculated by the storage state calculating unit and the types and the numbers of the coins counted by the dispensing counting unit if the coins are collected or instructed dispensing content and the types and the number of the coins counted by the dispensing counting unit, are inconsistent.

This coin processor includes a sorting portion sorting coins, a coin container containing coins, a first coin outlet employed at least for discharging coins for refund payment, a second coin outlet employed at least for discharging coins for change, and a control portion discharging coins of a prescribed type reaching at least a prescribed number substantially filling up the coin container from the coin container to one of the first coin outlet and the second coin outlet when the number of coins of the prescribed type contained in the coin container reaches at least the prescribed number.

This coin processor includes a sorting portion sorting coins, a coin container containing coins, a first coin outlet employed at least for discharging coins for refund payment, a second coin outlet employed at least for discharging coins for change, and a control portion discharging coins of a prescribed type reaching at least a prescribed number substantially filling up the coin container from the coin container to one of the first coin outlet and the second coin outlet when the number of coins of the prescribed type contained in the coin container reaches at least the prescribed number.

A method and system for auditing money items within a secure housing, the monety items being collected from a multi-denomination money item storage unit and validated while being transported by a conveyor that deposits them back into the multi-denomination storage unit after they have been identified. The same process is done with the money items present in the at least one hopper.