Money item handling system and method

A money item handling system, comprising:

• a mixed denomination money item storage region comprising at least one money item outlet routing;
• at least one money item collection zone arranged to receive mixed denomination money items output through the at least one money item outlet routing;
• at least one money item conveyor arranged to collect money items from the at least one money item collection zone and to convey money items collected from the at least one money item collection zone around a path of the at least one money item conveyor;
• at least one money item flow control apparatus;
• and
• at least one actuator configured to controllably actuate the at least one money item flow control apparatus to selectively control movement of money items from the mixed denomination money item storage region to the at least one money item collection zone, wherein the at least one money item flow control apparatus comprises at least one gate element to selectively block and permit movement of money items under gravity from the at least one money item outlet routing to the at least one money item collection zone, and
• wherein the at least one gate element has a money item accommodating region comprising an open top, the money item accommodating region being configured to receive groups of money items via the at least one money item outlet routing,
• wherein in a substantially upright first orientation of the money item accommodating region, an inner retaining wall of the at least one gate element is arranged to allow a group of money items to enter the money item accommodating region via the at least one money item outlet routing, and the money item accommodating region is configured to retain the group of money items inside the at least one gate element,
• wherein in a substantially non-upright second orientation of the money item accommodating region, the inner retaining wall of the at least one gate element is arranged to prevent further money items from entering the money item accommodating region via the at least one money item outlet routing, and the money item accommodating region is configured to release the group of money items to the at least one money item conveyor by tipping the group of money items out of the open top of the money item accommodating region, and
• wherein the money item accommodating region is configured to move back and forth between the first and second orientations to successively feed groups of money items onto the at least one money item conveyor.