Dual validator self-service kiosk

1. A self-service kiosk comprising:

a dispenser configured to:

dispense a first tangible item to a customer; and

retract the first tangible item into the kiosk if the first tangible item remains uncollected for a period of time;

a first validator configured to examine the first tangible item:

before the first tangible item is dispensed by the dispenser; and

after the first tangible item is retracted by the dispenser;

a bi-directional flow path coupling the first validator to the dispenser, wherein the bi-directional flow path is configured to transfer the first tangible item from the first validator to the dispenser and from the dispenser to the first validator;

an acceptor configured to receive a second tangible item from the customer; and

a second validator coupled to the acceptor, the second validator configured to examine the second tangible item received by the acceptor.

2. The kiosk of claim 1 , the first tangible item being one of a plurality of first tangible items, the first validator comprising:

a counter configured to count each of the plurality of first tangible items;

a denomination detector configured to identify a denomination of each of the plurality of first tangible items; and

a counterfeit detector configured to identify noncurrency items among the plurality of first tangible items.

3. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein:

the first validator is configured to:

apply a first examination routine to the first tangible item prior to dispensing the first tangible item to the customer; and

apply a second examination routine to the first tangible item after retracting the first tangible item; and

the second validator is configured to apply a third examination routine to the second tangible item.

4. The kiosk of claim 1 further comprising a cassette configured to hold a plurality of first tangible items, the cassette being coupled to the first validator.

5. The kiosk of claim 4 wherein the first validator is configured to examine each of the first tangible items extracted from the cassette.

6. The kiosk of claim 1 further comprising a purge-bin, the purge-bin configured to hold the first tangible item after being retracted into the kiosk, the purge-bin being coupled to the first validator.

7. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the first tangible item is not money.

8. An automated teller machine (“ATM”), the ATM comprising:

a storage cassette configured to store a first tangible item;

a first validator configured to:

receive the first tangible item from the storage cassette; and

apply an examination routine to the first tangible item, the examination routine comprising:

identifying the first tangible item as currency;

validating an authenticity of the first tangible item; and

determining a denomination of the first tangible item;

a dispenser configured to receive the first tangible item from the first validator and present the first tangible item to a customer;

a bi-directional transfer path configured to transfer the first tangible item from the first validator to the dispenser and from the dispenser to the first validator;

an acceptor configured to receive a second tangible item from the customer;

a second validator coupled to the acceptor, the second validator configured to examine the second tangible item received from the customer; and

a computer system comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein; and

a processor configured to execute the computer readable program code;

wherein the computer readable program code in said computer system when executed by the processor causes the computer system to control:

a first transfer of the first tangible item from the storage cassette to the first validator; and

a second transfer of the first tangible item from the first validator to the dispenser via the bi-directional transfer path.

9. The ATM of claim 8 wherein:

the dispenser is configured to retract the first tangible item after a time-out period; and

the first validator is configured to determine a denomination of the currency after the time-out period.

10. The ATM of claim 8 wherein, when the first tangible item is one of a plurality of tangible items:

the first validator is configured to:

apply a first examination routine to each of the plurality of tangible items;

the dispenser is configured to:

present each of the plurality of tangible items to the customer; and

retract at least a portion of the plurality of tangible items;

the first validator is configured to receive the retracted portion of the plurality of tangible items via the bidirectional transfer path and apply a second examination routine to the retracted portion of the plurality of tangible items; and

the computer readable program code in said computer system when executed by the processor causes the computer system to:

calculate a first value (“FV”) corresponding to the dispensed plurality of tangible items;

determine a second value (“SV”) corresponding to the retracted portion of the plurality of tangible items;

calculate a difference equal to (FV)−(SV); and

debit an account of the customer an amount equal to the difference.

11. The ATM of claim 10 , wherein the second examination routine comprises:

counting each tangible item in the retracted portion of the plurality of tangible items; and

determining a denomination of each tangible time in the retracted portion of tangible items.

12. The ATM of claim 8 , wherein, if the first validator identifies the first tangible item as a non-currency item, the computer readable program code in said computer system when executed by the processor causes the computer system to:

control:

a third transfer of the non-currency item from the first validator to a purge-bin; and

a fourth transfer of a replacement for the noncurrency item from the storage cassette to the first validator; and

log:

a date and time of the identifying; and

a denomination of the replacement.

13. The ATM of claim 12 , wherein the computer readable program code in said computer system when executed by the processor causes the computer system to submit a mis-loaded cassette claim to an entity responsible for loading the cash cassette.

14. The ATM of claim 8 wherein, if the denomination is not associated with the storage cassette, the computer readable program code in said computer system when executed by the processor causes the computer system to, control a third transfer of the first tangible item to a purge-bin.

15. The ATM of claim 14 wherein, the computer readable program code in said computer system when executed by the processor causes the computer system to submit a mis-loaded cassette claim to an entity responsible for loading the cash cassette.

16. An automated teller machine (“ATM”) comprising a first validator and a second validator, the ATM configured to:

receive a deposit;

transfer the deposit to the first validator;

receive a request for a withdrawal of cash;

in response to receiving the request:

extract the cash from a cash cassette;

transfer the cash to the second validator;

transfer the cash from the second validator to a dispenser using a bi-directional transfer path;

dispense the cash to the customer;

retract, after a time-out period, at least a portion of the cash not collected by the customer;

transfer the retracted portion of the cash from the dispenser to the second validator using the bi-directional transfer path;

wherein:

the first validator is configured to examine the deposit; and

the second validator is configured to examine:

the cash prior to dispensing the cash to a customer; and

the retracted portion of the cash.

17. The ATM of claim 16 , the ATM further configured to debit an account of the customer an amount corresponding to a difference between:

a first value of the cash extracted from the cash cassette; and

a second value of the retracted portion of the cash not collected by the customer.

18. The ATM of claim 17 , the ATM further configured to, in response to a detection of the difference:

generate a fraud record, the fraud record comprising:

a date and time of the request;

an action performed by the ATM in response to the request;

the first value;

the second value; and

the difference between the first value and the second value; and

transmit the fraud record.

19. The ATM of claim 16 , wherein, when the cash is a first batch of cash, the ATM is configured to:

transfer the first batch of cash to the second validator; and

if the second validator identifies a non-currency item included in the first batch of cash:

extract a second batch of cash from the cash cassette; and

transfer the second batch of cash to the second validator.