Abstract: A coin handling mechanism includes a counter for counting coins incoming and outgoing to and from a cassette-type coin storage tube. In response to detection of temporary detachment of the cassette during collection of the stored coins from the tube, the counted value of the counter is initially set to a predetermined value. Then, in response to activation of a predetermined switch during next collection of the stored coins from the tube, a determination is made as to whether the current value of the counter is greater than the initially-set predetermined value. If so, a specific number of the coins corresponding to a difference between the current value and the initially-set predetermined value are automatically paid out from the tube, but if not, the cassette is temporarily detached for manual supply of a necessary number of additional coins to the tube without the stored coins being paid out from the tube.

Abstract: A sensor section for obtaining identification data from a bill passing through a bill transfer path can selectively be mounted in a plurality of positions on the body of a bill identifying apparatus. The sensor section is mounted in one of the mounting positions, and a certain region of the bill passing through the transfer path is sensed by means of a sensor section to obtain identification data. When the use of forged bill is identified by the bill identifying apparatus, or after the machine has been used for a predetermined time, the mounting position of the sensor section is changed to another one. Thereupon, the sensor section senses other region of the bill passing through the transfer path to obtain identification data. Thus, the sensor section can easily cope with the use of the counterfeit bill even if the bill identifying apparatus is designed to be capable of sensing only a part of the whole area of the bill.

Abstract: During recording of data on a recording medium, tracking is performed using auxiliary beams to refer to guide tracks as done in the conventional three-beam method. During reproduction of data from the recording medium, tracking is performed using a main beam to refer to a data pit recorded in a recording track in accordance with the push-pull method. In addition, there are provided two tracking control circuits based on the three-beam method and push-pull method, and the use of tracking control signals based on the three-beam and push-pull methods that are output from the two circuits is selected via a switch.

Abstract: A laser light beam generated from a light source is divided by a diffraction grating into a plurality of light beams, i.e., a single main beam to be used for recording information and plural auxiliary beams distributed on two imaginary straight lines crossing each other. One of the straight lines extends parallel to tracks of a recording medium. The resultant divided beams are converged to be irradiated onto a recording medium, and reflected components, from the recording medium, of the beams are received by corresponding light receiving elements. Thus, the main and auxiliary beams distributed on one of the two imaginary straight lines are used to perform focusing and tracking. Further, one of the two auxiliary beams distributed on the other straight line are used to determine whether a track where information is to be recorded is a blank area or not, and the other of the auxiliary beams is used to verify whether the information has been recorded correctly.

Abstract: Apparatus for recording and reproducing information prevents the bearing surface of an auxiliary bearing of a card carriage which is in sliding contact with an auxiliary guide rail from being locally worn. A main guide rail and the auxiliary guide rail are spaced in the same plane. The axis of the auxiliary guide rail is oblique at a predetermined very small angle to the axis of the main guide rail. The auxiliary bearing has a bearing bore having a slot-shaped cross section. Portions of the bearing surface of the bearing bore which are in contact with the auxiliary guide rail are displaced transversely to the direction of the stroke of the card carriage during the stroke.

Abstract: The paper examining apparatus examines the genuineness of a paper, such as a bank note, on the basis of its physical characteristics measured from the various points of the paper. The apparatus includes a carry distance detecting device, such as a rotary encoder, for detecting a carry distance of the paper; a reference value storing device for storing reference values corresponding to the nominal physical characteristics of the paper; a detection point setting device for setting a number and positions of detection points from which the detection values of the paper are detected; and a match detecting device for outputting a match signal whenever a set signal outputted by the detection point setting device matches a detection signal outputted by the carry distance detecting section.

Abstract: Each information recording track has pre-formatted fore and rear header sections containing address information identifying the track, which permit each of the recording tracks to be accessed from either of the header sections. A predetermined synchronization signal is pre-formatted in a storing area for each frame having a predetermined data size, so that information can be non-rewritably recorded onto the storing area for a predetermined frame by referring to the pre-formatted synchronization signal. With this arrangement, data can be recorded onto a selected information recording track in either of the directions of relative reciprocating movement of the recording medium to a recording/reproducing head, and thus the recording speed can be increased.

Abstract: A coin dispensing apparatus having a simple construction and capable of dispensing coins securely and easily. A guide member is arranged extending along a tangent to a column formed in the center of rotation of the disk, whereby the coins can be smoothly transported along the guide member by means of a force from first protrusions without applying an impulsive force to the first protrusions and the guide member. Each coin transported to a predetermined position by the associated first protrusion is further transported to the outside of the transportation limit of the first protrusion by a second protrusion which is associated with a subsequent through hole, and is delivered securely to a coin dispensing port. A stirring rod having a rigid portion with an elliptic section and a rod with a circular section is fixed to the center of rotation of the disk, and the coins in a hopper are stirred by the protuberances on the outer peripheral surface of the rigid portion.

Abstract: In an optical information recording and reproducing apparatus, information is recorded or reproduced by moving a recording medium relative to an optical head. In order to execute information recording onto the medium in the course of the relative movement involving acceleration and deceleration, the generation timing and intensity of a light beam to be generated in correspondence with the information to be recorded are controlled in response to a varying speed of the relative movement so that data pits to be formed in the recording medium can be standardized in pitch and size irrespective of the relative movement speed. Also, in order to permit information reproduction from the medium in the course of the relative movement involving acceleration and deceleration, reproduction timing of data read by the optical head is set in synchronism with variation in the relative movement speed so that the data can be reproduced at proper timing irrespective of the relative movement speed.

Abstract: Apparatus for recording and reproducing information prevents the bearing surface of an auxiliary bearing of a card carriage which is in sliding contact with an auxiliary guide rail from being locally worn. A main guide rail and the auxiliary guide rail are spaced in the same plane. The axis of the auxiliary guide rail is oblique at a predetermined very small angle to the axis of the main guide rail. The auxiliary bearing has a bearing bore having a slot-shaped cross section. Portions of the bearing surface of the bearing bore which are in contact with the auxiliary guide rail are displaced transversely to the direction of the stroke of the card carriage during the stroke.

Abstract: For recording or reproduction of information, the optical beam is moved relative to the recording medium along the longitudinal direction of a certain track. When accessing another track, the relative movement of the light beam along the longitudinal direction of the track is decelerated, and during this deceleration, the light beam is started to move in the direction transverse to the tracks toward the desired track. Thus, it is not necessary to wait for such time when the relative movement of the light beam along the longitudinal direction of the track has been completely stopped, and hence the necessary accessing time can substantially be reduced.

Abstract: In a laser output control device for use in an optical information recording and reproducing apparatus which uses output light from a semiconductor laser device to record and reproduce information onto and from an optical information recording medium, a light receiving element is provided on the peripheral portion of a laser light emitting window formed in a housing of the semiconductor laser device. The peripheral component of forward radiated light of the laser light output from the semiconductor laser device is received by the light receiving element, so as to control the output power of the semiconductor laser device in accordance with output of the light receiving element corresponding to the received light.

Abstract: Information is recorded and reproduced by making a light beam traverse guide tracks to reach a target track. In moving the light beam to the target track, a tracking error signal is supplied to the inverting input terminal of a comparator to compare it with a potential at the non-inverting input terminal. The comparator outputs a comparison result signal to an output terminal. This output signal is fed back to the non-inverting input terminal via a feedback element so that the potential at the non-inverting input terminal changes with the output signal of the comparator. With the operation of the potential control circuit, a large feedback signal of the feedback element is used when a tracking control off signal is supplied, so that the potential at the non-inverting input terminal is easy to change with the output signal level. When the tracking control off signal is not supplied, a small feedback signal is used to change the potential at the non-inverting input terminal with the output signal level.

Abstract: In an error correction circuit, when a data loss is detected, substitute data comprising all bits of "1" or "0" are generated during a data loss period and substituted for the lost data for the data loss period. Thereafter, the whole data containing the substitute data are decoded in a predetermined error correction system to generate corrected data.

Abstract: In a tracking or focusing servo control loop, there are provided a switch element for switch-controlling a tracking or focusing error signal, and a smoothing circuit for switching passage the error signal. An amount of detected reflection from an optical recording medium is monitored by a controller section, and the switching action of the switch element is ON/OFF-controlled by the controller section so as to maintain a servo loop gain at a predetermined standard. Thus, it is possible to maintain a constant servo loop gain without being influenced by variation in the laser light amount or difference in reflectivity characteristics of the recording layers of individual optical recording media, and constantly stable tracking servo control and/or focusing servo control can be performed.

Abstract: A high-density recording medium has data tracks and guide tracks formed on both sides of each of the data tracks. Intervals between the guide tracks are set in such a manner that the outer edges of two adjacent guide tracks correspond in position to two tracking laser beam spots on the recording medium. To allow use of either of the high-density recording medium, and a conventional recording medium on which intervals between guide tracks are set in such a manner that the inner edges of two adjacent guide tracks correspond in position to two tracking laser beam spots, control is performed such that polarity of a tracking control servo is selectively inverted depending upon which of the high-density and conventional recording medium is used.

Abstract: An apparatus for identifying a paper currency. Before the front end of the currency is detected by optical sensors, the output signal (DATA1) from the optical sensors is stored in a first storage device. When the rear end of the currency subsequently passes across the sensors and the currency is no longer detected by the sensors, the output signal (DATA3) from the sensors is stored in a second storage device. If any currency-withdrawing device such as cord or tape is not attached to the currency, the DATA1 is equal to the DATA3 because these two kinds of data indicate the state in which nothing is present in the currency conveyance passageway. If such a currency-withdrawing device is attached to the currency, light from light-emitting devices is blocked or reflected by the cord or tape, thus varying the DATA3. However, the DATA1 is not affected. As a result, the DATA1 becomes unequal to the DATA3.

Abstract: A position detector detects a relative position of an optical head to a recording medium, and on the basis of the thus-detected relative position, a position detection signal is generated in response to movement of a light beam over a predetermined distance. Then, in response to the position detection signal, a comparison is made between the number of track crossing counted for the predetermined movement distance on the basis of reception of reflection of the light beam, and a predetermined reference value for the predetermined movement distance. Then, track crossing count compensation data is generated which corresponds to a difference between the counted number of track crossing and the reference value, and the counted number of track crossing is corrected by use of such compensation data.

Abstract: Coin processing apparatus electromagnetically tests an inserted coin, separates genuine coins from counterfeit coins by a first pathway switching mechanism, and stores genuine coins in change tubes and a cash-box by a second pathway switching mechanism, according to the type of coin. The pathway along which the coins pass is provided with pass sensors at two positions therein, where one pass sensor detects the coins and the other pass sensor controls the operation of the second pathway switching mechanism in such as manner as to prevent passing coins from becoming trapped therein. The second pathway switching mechanism is operated after a predetermined time has elapsed from the fall of a detection signal from a pass sensor, to end the flow of current through and thereby prevent overheating of a solenoid therein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a coin-identifying method that is fast and that can reject any counterfeit coin that closely resembles a genuine coin, or a counterfeit coin that has a distribution that partially overlaps into a genuine-coin identification region, without reducing the acceptance ratio of genuine coins. It also provides an inexpensive apparatus that utilizes this method. The method and apparatus of the present invention perform a identification in which a first region is set to define a comparison reference for values measured by a first sensor and a second sensor that detect characteristics of a coin, a second region is set in such a manner as to partially overlap the first region, a preliminary identification is performed using this second region to determine whether the coin is a counterfeit. If the identification result is such that the coin is not determined to be a counterfeit, the first region is then used for further identification.