Patents by Inventor Minoru Enomoto

Minoru Enomoto has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7547248
    Abstract: A disk dispensing apparatus has an ejector unit that can be reversibly mounted at the end of a guide path so that tokens or disks can be both adjusted for different sizes while permitting the discharge of the disks in opposite directions. The guide path is also adjustable to accommodate different sized disks with a base member extending above support plates that define a transmit opening for the disk. The base member has an aperture that is operatively interfaced with a flipping roller that can propel disks at a discharge position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Minoru Enomoto
  • Publication number: 20090073655
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes: a housing; a motherboard that is accommodated in the housing; a first daughterboard that is accommodated in the housing; a second daughterboard that is accommodated in the housing; a host controller that is mounted on the motherboard; a bridge controller that is mounted on the first daughterboard and electrically connected to the host controller; a first chip that is mounted on the first daughterboard and electrically connected to the bridge controller; and a second chip that is mounted on the second daughterboard and electrically connected to the bridge controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masahiko Takakusaki, Minoru Enomoto
  • Publication number: 20090029638
    Abstract: A pressing member having a body member with a first downwardly inclined plate and a second downwardly inclined plate is configured for mounting on a coin feeding apparatus to control the translation of coins on a rotary selector disk as they are released. The coins experience a downward force from the inclined plates to push them against the surface of the rotary disk to ensure that the coins remain within the predetermined translation path for the coins. A blocking plate can be extended upward from the body member adjacent the upstream downwardly extending plate, to prevent a rising of the coins to ensure the coins passes under the canopy of the pressing member across the translation path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventor: Minoru Enomoto
  • Patent number: 7470174
    Abstract: A compact coin distribution device is capable of separating a plurality of coin denominations that are stored in bulk. A separator feeding device removes the coins in a one-by-one manner to a transfer device for translating the coins in one direction. The denomination of the coins can be sensed and a plurality of coin selecting ports can be aligned on either side of a coin transfer path. A plurality of movable guide members form a support for the coins both at the bottom and side of the coins. An activating unit can selectively activate a specific guide member, to thereby enable a specific coin to be released into a specific coin selecting port. The ability of the coins to be released on either side of the transfer path enables an efficient and compact configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayoshi Umeda, Minoru Enomoto
  • Publication number: 20080299886
    Abstract: A coin hopper includes a rotating disk provided obliquely upward at a predetermined angle; an outer covering unit covering at least a lower outer circumference of the rotating disk; a holding bowl continuing from the outer covering unit and holding coins; a circular supporting rack provided in a central region of an upper surface of the rotating disk; and coin stoppers being provided on the upper surface of the rotating disk and extending radially from the supporting rack in a circumferential direction to a periphery of the rotating disk at an equal interval. Coins are accepted one by one while a surface thereof is contacted with a holding surface of the upper surface of the rotating disk between the coin stoppers, are moved in one direction while a periphery thereof is held by the supporting rack, and are received from the coin stoppers during transportation by a coin receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: Asahi Seiko, Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Minoru Enomoto
  • Patent number: 7429213
    Abstract: An automatic coin aligning apparatus including a coin storing unit, a chute section, and a dispensing control unit. The chute section is disposed above the coin storing unit and has an upper portion and a lower portion. The chute section upper portion extends to receive coins from a plurality of coin hoppers, the chute section lower portion extends to a coin storing section. The coin storing unit includes a plurality of coin storing sections. Each coin storing section can receive a predetermined quantity of coins from a coin hopper. Each coin hopper can store a bulk quantity of coins of a predetermined denomination and dispense coins in a one by one manner. The dispensing control unit controls the coin dispensing quantity of the plurality of coin hoppers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Minoru Enomoto, Shigeo Kawauchi
  • Patent number: 7426987
    Abstract: A coin denomination discriminating device for improving coin dispensing devices which incorporates components formed of non-magnetic material including a non-magnetic rotor having a coin receiving portion and a non-magnetic reference guide to guide coins from a storage coin holding bowl to a coin conveying device capable of selectively releasing coins of various denominations. Magnetic sensor units can be positioned along the coin movement path to provide characteristic signals representative of the coins independent of influence of metallic components in the transporting path. The non-magnetic members can be formed from wear resistant plastic material and relatively inexpensive magnetic sensors with coil and ferrite coils can be utilized adjacent the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayoshi Umeda, Minoru Enomoto, Hiroshi Otomo
  • Patent number: 7419042
    Abstract: An automatic coin aligning apparatus including a coin storing unit, a chute section, and a dispensing control unit. The chute section is disposed above the coin storing unit and has an upper portion and a lower portion. The chute section upper portion extends to receive coins from a plurality of coin hoppers, the chute section lower portion extends to a coin storing section. The coin storing unit includes a plurality of coin storing sections. Each coin storing section can receive a predetermined quantity of coins from a coin hopper. Each coin hopper can store a bulk quantity of coins of a predetermined denomination and dispense coins in a one by one manner. The dispensing control unit controls the coin dispensing quantity of the plurality of coin hoppers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Minoru Enomoto, Shigeo Kawauchi
  • Publication number: 20080171508
    Abstract: A coin replenishing apparatus, such as a detachable safe, can be securely mounted on a coin receiving and dispensing machine. The safe can have an interior cavity with an opening that can be covered by a lid that is lockable. Coins can be deposited into the safe cavity in a bulk state. A shutter member is movable from an exterior of the safe body member to enable the opening and closing of access to the interior cavity. The safe body exterior can have guide rails, connectors and other features for both securing and determining the position of the safe above a coin receipt opening in the coin receiving and dispensing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Minoru Enomoto, Masayoshi Umeda
  • Publication number: 20080090509
    Abstract: A coin hopper is provided that can dispense coins of different diameters without any trouble. A rotating disk has coin stoppers that are upwardly inclined at a specified angle, and a circular supporting rack at the center of the upper surface thereof. The stoppers expand radially at regular intervals, from the supporting rack side to the circumferential direction. The rotating disk makes the coins contact a holding surface between the coin stoppers and receives the coins one by one, and supports them by the supporting rack and feeds them out. An outer covering unit covers at least the lower outer circumference of the rotating disk. A storing bowl stores coins in bulk following the outer covering unit. A coin receiving unit expands from the vicinity of the supporting rack to the circumferential direction of the rotating disk, wherein the coin stoppers are arranged in a state fixed to the rotating disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventor: Minoru ENOMOTO
  • Publication number: 20080079382
    Abstract: A robot control apparatus comprises a servo amplifier having an AC/DC converter and used for driving a servo motor of a robot, and performs control so that power for driving the robot is supplied to the servo amplifier through a capacitor inrush current preventing resistor until precharging of a capacitor provided for the AC/DC converter is completed. The robot control apparatus has a first operation mode in which the power is supplied by bypassing the resistor, a second operation mode in which power is supplied through the resistor thereby controlling the servo motor in the robot to a lower driving speed than the driving speed in the first operation mode, and a selector switch SW for effecting switching from the first operation mode to the second operation mode or from the second operation mode to the first operation mode. With this configuration, a power supply circuit for supplying power to the servo amplifier for limiting the driving of the robot is reliably implemented by hardware.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: Yoshiki Hashimoto, Minoru Enomoto
  • Publication number: 20070287373
    Abstract: An automatic coin aligning apparatus including a coin storing unit, a chute section, and a dispensing control unit. The chute section is disposed above the coin storing unit and has an upper portion and a lower portion. The chute section upper portion extends to receive coins from a plurality of coin hoppers, the chute section lower portion extends to a coin storing section. The coin storing unit includes a plurality of coin storing sections. Each coin storing section can receive a predetermined quantity of coins from a coin hopper. Each coin hopper can store a bulk quantity of coins of a predetermined denomination and dispense coins in a one by one manner. The dispensing control unit controls the coin dispensing quantity of the plurality of coin hoppers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventors: Minoru Enomoto, Shigeo Kawauchi
  • Publication number: 20070207717
    Abstract: A disk dispensing apparatus has an ejector unit that can be reversibly mounted at the end of a guide path so that tokens or disks can be both adjusted for different sizes while permitting the discharge of the disks in opposite directions. The guide path is also adjustable to accommodate different sized disks with a base member extending above support plates that define a transmit opening for the disk. The base member has an aperture that is operatively interfaced with a flipping roller that can propel disks at a discharge position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Inventor: Minoru Enomoto
  • Patent number: 7255639
    Abstract: A compact coin delivery device includes a rotary disk with indented concave portions for receiving a coin from a hopper or a coin storage bowl. A movable member in the concave portion can have controlled movement for ejecting the coin at a desired location. An endless conveyer member with pins can receive the coin and transport it in an L-shaped path. The coins can be released to individual chutes for separating coins of different dimensions and denominations, both on a path away from the coin delivery device and on a return path to the coin delivery device. Solenoid activated members can assist in displacing certain coins from the conveyor path, including into a separate retention or storage box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Abe, Minoru Enomoto, Masayoshi Umeda
  • Publication number: 20070087676
    Abstract: The present invention provides a coin feeding device that can separate coins of multiple denominations that are different in diameter. A rotary disk has a circular base plate and a pushing out disk with a plurality of space radial projecting portions extending above the circular base plate. The spaces between the radial projecting portions form coin separating concave portions for receiving coins. The circular base plate can have cam grooves. A pivoting moving body can be driven by the cam grooves and can be positioned at either a radially inward surface of the separating concave portion or extended forward to discharge a coin. One side of the separating concave portions are curved as a coin pushing portion while the other side has a protruding portion that is cantilevered to extend into the concave portion and to project upward to remove any extraneous coin that may be carried by movement of the rotary disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Publication date: April 19, 2007
    Inventors: Minoru Enomoto, Masayoshi Umeda
  • Publication number: 20070087675
    Abstract: A compact coin distribution device is capable of separating a plurality of coin denominations that are stored in bulk. A separator feeding device removes the coins in a one-by-one manner to a transfer device for translating the coins in one direction. The denomination of the coins can be sensed and a plurality of coin selecting ports can be aligned on either side of a coin transfer path. A plurality of movable guide members form a support for the coins both at the bottom and side of the coins. An activating unit can selectively activate a specific guide member, to thereby enable a specific coin to be released into a specific coin selecting port. The ability of the coins to be released on either side of the transfer path enables an efficient and compact configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Publication date: April 19, 2007
    Inventors: Masayoshi Umeda, Minoru Enomoto
  • Publication number: 20060278495
    Abstract: A coin denomination discriminating device for improving coin dispensing devices which incorporates components formed of non-magnetic material including a non-magnetic rotor having a coin receiving portion and a non-magnetic reference guide to guide coins from a storage coin holding bowl to a coin conveying device capable of selectively releasing coins of various denominations. Magnetic sensor units can be positioned along the coin movement path to provide characteristic signals representative of the coins independent of influence of metallic components in the transporting path. The non-magnetic members can be formed from wear resistant plastic material and relatively inexpensive magnetic sensors with coil and ferrite coils can be utilized adjacent the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Inventors: Masayoshi Umeda, Minoru Enomoto, Hiroshi Otomo
  • Publication number: 20060072809
    Abstract: A robot system having a vision sensor. The robot system includes a robot; a robot controlling section for controlling an operation of the robot; an imaging section provided on the robot and obtaining image data of a working environment of the robot; an image processing section for processing the image data obtained in the imaging section; a vision controlling section for controlling the imaging section and the image processing section to cause execution of obtaining the image data, transmitting the image data thus obtained, and processing the image data; and a communication network to which the robot controlling section, the image processing section and the vision controlling section are connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Yoshiki Hashimoto, Minoru Enomoto
  • Patent number: 7018285
    Abstract: A guiding structure for discs is disclosed. The guiding structure includes a hopper that dispenses discs one at a time, a guiding device that guides and aligns the dispensed discs, and a holding device for the discs that is located at the lower section of the guiding passageway. The guiding device may be detachably attached to the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Minoru Enomoto
  • Publication number: 20060019591
    Abstract: A compact coin delivery device includes a rotary disk with indented concave portions for receiving a coin from a hopper or a coin storage bowl. A movable member in the concave portion can have controlled movement for ejecting the coin at a desired location. An endless conveyer member with pins can receive the coin and transport it in an L-shaped path. The coins can be released to individual chutes for separating coins of different dimensions and denominations, both on a path away from the coin delivery device and on a return path to the coin delivery device. Solenoid activated members can assist in displacing certain coins from the conveyor path, including into a separate retention or storage box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Inventors: Hiroshi Abe, Minoru Enomoto, Masayoshi Umeda