Cash counter recycling apparatus and methods

1. A device comprising:

a receiving pocket configured to accept a quantity of currency;

an escrow section configured to receive the quantity of currency via the receiving pocket;

a transit mechanism configured to transport the quantity of currency between the escrow section and a deposit area in the device;

an escrow door movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position the escrow door is configured to enclose the escrow section on a face of the device, and wherein in the open position the quantity of currency in the escrow section is retrievable from an outside of the device;

an escrow tray disposed within the escrow section and configured to receive the quantity of currency, the escrow tray movable between a first position, a second position, and a third position, the first position substantially within the escrow section, the second position extending at least partially outside of the escrow section, and the third position configured to provide the quantity of currency to the transit mechanism;

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

determine whether the escrow door is in the closed position when the quantity of currency enters the escrow section;

provide a first indication that the escrow door is in the closed position when the quantity of currency enters the escrow section;

cause, based on receiving the first indication, the escrow tray to operate from the first position to the third position such that the transit mechanism receives the quantity of currency;

cause the transit mechanism to transfer the quantity of currency to the deposit area; and

cause, based on not receiving the first indication, the transit mechanism to automatically prevent the transfer of the quantity of currency from the escrow section to the deposit area.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a counter mechanism connected to the receiving pocket, the counter mechanism configured to count the quantity of currency;

wherein the escrow section is downstream of the counter mechanism.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:

determine whether the escrow door remains in the closed position throughout a transit of the quantity of currency from the receiving pocket to the escrow section; and

provide a second indication that the escrow door remains in the closed position throughout the transit of the quantity of currency from the receiving pocket to the escrow section;

wherein causing the escrow tray to operate from the first position to the third position is further based on receiving the second indication.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the transit mechanism is configured to operate the escrow tray from the first position to the second position when the escrow door is in the open position.

5. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface configured to be engaged by a user;

wherein causing the escrow tray to operate from the first position to the third position is further based on receiving a first user input, the first user input indicating that the user has accepted the quantity of currency; and

wherein causing the transit mechanism to automatically prevent the transfer of the quantity of currency from the escrow section to the deposit area is further based on receiving a second user input, the second user input indicating that the user has not accepted the quantity of currency.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the escrow tray is coupled to a surface of the escrow section.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise, responsive to causing the transit mechanism to automatically prevent the transfer of the quantity of currency from the escrow section to the deposit area, cause:

the escrow door to open; and

the escrow tray to move from the first position to the second position.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a receiving pocket configured to accept a quantity of currency;

an escrow section configured to receive the quantity of currency via the receiving pocket;

a transit mechanism configured to transport the quantity of currency between the escrow section and a deposit area in the apparatus;

an escrow door movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position the escrow door is configured to enclose the escrow section on a face of the apparatus, and wherein in the open position the quantity of currency in the escrow section is retrievable from an outside of the apparatus;

an escrow tray disposed within the escrow section and configured to receive the quantity of currency, the escrow tray movable between a first position, a second position, and a third position, the first position substantially within the escrow section, the second position extending at least partially outside of the escrow section, and the third position configured to provide the quantity of currency to the transit mechanism;

wherein the apparatus is configured to:

determine whether the escrow door is in the closed position when the quantity of currency enters the escrow section;

provide a first indication that the escrow door is in the closed position when the quantity of currency enters the escrow section;

cause, based on receiving the first indication, the escrow tray to operate from the first position to the third position such that the transit mechanism receives the quantity of currency;

cause the transit mechanism to transfer the quantity of currency to the deposit area; and

cause, based on not receiving the first indication, the transit mechanism to automatically prevent the transfer of the quantity of currency from the escrow section to the deposit area.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a counter mechanism connected to the receiving pocket, the counter mechanism configured to count the quantity of currency;

wherein the escrow section is downstream of the counter mechanism.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to:

determine whether the escrow door remains in the closed position throughout a transit of the quantity of currency from the receiving pocket to the escrow section; and

provide a second indication that the escrow door remains in the closed position throughout the transit of the quantity of currency from the receiving pocket to the escrow section;

wherein causing the escrow tray to operate from the first position to the third position is further based on receiving the second indication.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the transit mechanism is configured to operate the escrow tray from the first position to the second position when the escrow door is in the open position.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a user interface configured to be engaged by a user;

wherein causing the escrow tray to operate from the first position to the third position is further based on receiving a first user input, the first user input indicating that the user has accepted the quantity of currency; and

wherein causing the transit mechanism to automatically prevent the transfer of the quantity of currency from the escrow section to the deposit area is further based on receiving a second user input, the second user input indicating that the user has not accepted the quantity of currency.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the escrow tray is coupled to a surface of the escrow section.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to, responsive to causing the transit mechanism to automatically prevent the transfer of the quantity of currency from the escrow section to the deposit area, cause:

the escrow door to open; and

the escrow tray to move from the first position to the second position.

15. A method for counting and recycling currency comprising:

accepting a quantity of currency into a receiving pocket on an exterior of a counter recycling device;

transferring the quantity of currency to an escrow section in the counter recycling device, the escrow section comprising:

an escrow door movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position the escrow door is configured to enclose the escrow section on a face of the counter recycling device, and wherein in the open position the quantity of currency in the escrow section is retrievable from an outside of the counter recycling device; and

an escrow tray disposed within the escrow section and configured to receive the quantity of currency, the escrow tray movable between a first position, a second position, and a third position, the first position substantially within the escrow section, the second position extending at least partially outside of the escrow section, and the third position configured to provide the quantity of currency to a transit mechanism;

determining, by a processor, whether the escrow door is in the closed position when the quantity of currency enters the escrow section;

providing, by the processor, a first indication that the escrow door is in the closed position when the quantity of currency enters the escrow section;

causing, by the processor and based on receiving the first indication, the escrow tray to operate from the first position to the third position such that the transit mechanism receives the quantity of currency;

causing, by the processor, the transit mechanism to transfer the quantity of currency to a deposit area of the counter recycling device; and

causing, by the processor and based on not receiving the first indication, the transit mechanism to automatically prevent the transfer of the quantity of currency from the escrow section to the deposit area.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

transferring the quantity of currency to a counter mechanism before transferring the quantity of currency to the escrow section; and

counting, by the counter mechanism, the quantity of currency;

wherein the escrow section is downstream of the counter mechanism.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

determining whether the escrow door remains in the closed position throughout a transit of the quantity of currency from the receiving pocket to the escrow section; and

providing a second indication that the escrow door remains in the closed position throughout the transit of the quantity of currency from the receiving pocket to the escrow section;

wherein causing the escrow tray to operate from the first position to the third position is further based on receiving the second indication.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising receiving, by a user interface, at least one of a first user input and a second user input from a user;

wherein causing the escrow tray to operate from the first position to the third position is further based on receiving the first user input, the first user input indicating that the user has accepted the quantity of currency; and

wherein causing the transit mechanism to automatically prevent the transfer of the quantity of currency from the escrow section to the deposit area is further based on receiving the second user input, the second user input indicating that the user has not accepted the quantity of currency.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the escrow tray is coupled to a surface of the escrow section.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising, responsive to causing the transit mechanism to automatically prevent the transfer of the quantity of currency from the escrow section to the deposit area, causing:

the escrow door to open; and

the escrow tray to move from the first position to the second position.