Self-service kiosk validator bridge

A self-service kiosk comprising:

• a dispenser configured to:
• present a first tangible item to a customer;
• and
• retract the first tangible item;
• an acceptor configured to receive a second tangible item from the customer;
• a validator configured to examine:
• the first tangible item;
• and
• the second tangible item;
• and
• a bridge comprising a forked transmission path, the bridge configured to transfer:
• the first tangible item retracted by the dispenser from the dispenser to the validator using a first branch of the forked transmission path;
• and
• the second tangible item received by the acceptor from the acceptor to the validator using a second branch of the forked transmission path.

A method for reducing fraud at a self-service kiosk (“SSK”), the method comprising:

• using a dispenser of the SSK, dispensing a first amount of money to a customer;
• using the dispenser of the SSK, retracting at least a portion of the first amount of money;
• using a bridge, transferring the portion of the first amount of money from the dispenser to a validator over a first branch of the bridge;
• using the validator, examining the portion of the first amount of money;
• using the bridge, transferring the portion of the first amount of money from the validator to a purge-bin over a second branch of the bridge;
• using an acceptor of the SSK, receiving a second amount of money deposited by the customer;
• using the bridge, transferring the second amount of money from the acceptor of the SSK to the validator over a third branch of the bridge;
• and
• using the validator of the SSK, examining the second amount of money deposited into the self-service kiosk;
• wherein the first branch and the third branch are bidirectional transfer paths.