Including Means To Test Validity Of Check Patents (Class 194/302)
  • Patent number: 7743902
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for determining the denomination of a coin with a disk-type coin processing system comprises moving a coin along a coin path with a rotatable disk, generating an encoder pulse for each incremental movement of the rotatable disk, directing a light beam transverse the coin path, detecting the light beam with a light detector, developing a signal at the light detector indicating the presence of a coin in the coin path, counting a number of encoder pulses occurring while developing the signal at the light detector, and comparing the counted number of encoder pulses to a plurality of stored numbers of encoder pulses corresponding to the particular coin denominations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: David J. Wendell, John R. Blake, Joseph J. Geib, John C. Peklo, Richard A. Mazur, David J. Mecklenburg
  • Patent number: 7740120
    Abstract: A money processing system according to the present invention includes a coin change dispenser, a note change dispenser, and a control terminal, each having a control unit. The control units are generally adapted to carrying out a “change dispensing mode” control for receiving money given by a customer and dispensing change as occasion demands, and is adapted to carrying out a “money exchange mode” control, when a money exchange instruction is given from instruction means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Glory Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Shimizu, Hajime Murota, Kazuya Itou, Masashi Numaki, Koichi Nishida
  • Patent number: 7721868
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for adjusting a bank note processing machine by which threshold values of sensors are defined for recognizing the condition of bank notes. The invention starts out from a method for adjusting a bank note processing machine by which threshold values of sensors are defined for recognizing the condition of bank notes, whereby a number of bank notes is processed by means of the bank note processing machine and data of at least one sensor are stored, the condition of the bank notes is recognized by means of the stored data and at least one threshold value, a relation between the recognized condition of the bank notes and the at least one threshold value is determined and displayed, at least one threshold value is changed on the basis of the displayed relation, and at least the condition and the relation are determined again and the relation is displayed again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Giescke & Devrient GmbH
    Inventor: Kurt Wilfer
  • Publication number: 20100116883
    Abstract: A multi media payment device includes a banknote acceptor and a RF card reader, and also may include a magnetic card reader. A bezel assembly for connection to the bill acceptor preferably includes a reader unit to read magnetic swipe cards and contactless chip cards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Evan J. Cost, Peter Bullard, Robert Martin
  • Publication number: 20100072024
    Abstract: Disclosed is a coin acceptor mechanism with a coin pick-up wheel for advancing coins in a radial path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventor: Kenneth J. O'BYRNE
  • Patent number: 7681708
    Abstract: A device for sorting disks or disk-like members of different identities (e.g., roulette chips) that ejects the disks from a receptacle by means of a rotating wheel with numerous wells, such as multi-chip storage compartments. Ejection of an article from the numerous wells is achieved by an ejector lever making contact with an activated solenoid thus forcing the article at the bottom of the well, in conjunction with the momentum of the rotating wheel, into a receiving space. The disks in the receiving spaces are continually replaced by newly arriving disks, which force the previously positioned disks upwards into a column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Shuffle Master GmbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Peter Wolfgang De Raedt, Ludo De Meutter
  • Patent number: 7684607
    Abstract: A system for automatic detection of authenticity of security documents by measuring reflected components of incident energy in three or more optical wave bands. The system involves the use of UV-visible light source, an optional near infra red light source, photodetectors and associated sensing circuitry. Photoelectric signals generated by photodetectors from the reflected energy received from a security document are used to verify its authenticity under UV-visible along with optional near infra red illumination. The process involves measurement of energy reflected as photoelectric signals from a security document in at least three optical wavebands by suitably located photodetectors with appropriate wave band filters and the electronic signal processing to distinguish between a genuine document from a fake one for ultimate LED indicator display and audio-visual alarms, hence the detection of fake security document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
    Inventors: Murli Manohar Joshi, Ram Prakash Bajpai, Gautum Mitra, Harish Kumar Sardana, Hari Narayan Bhargaw, Saroj Batra
  • Patent number: 7677969
    Abstract: A bill acceptor for a gaming machine including a receiving zone for receiving a tendered bill. A sensing device is arranged at an input region of the receiving zone for sensing at least one characteristic of the bill. A controller is in communication with the sensing device for receiving an output signal from the sensing device. An annunciator is controlled by the controller to be activated when a bill acceptance rate of the controller drops below a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty. Limited
    Inventor: James Rist
  • Publication number: 20100017018
    Abstract: A sort pattern creating method for creating a sort pattern is provided, for a banknote handling apparatus 100 in which banknotes are stacked in the sort pattern so that the task required for setting the sort pattern can be simplified and a wrong operation by an operator can be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: GLORY LTD.
    Inventors: Hajime Morino, Kozen Nakai, Masanori Nose
  • Patent number: 7650027
    Abstract: A currency genuineness detection system using plurality of opto-electronic sensors with both transmission and reflective (including fluorescence) properties of security documents is developed. Both detection sensing strategies utilise integrated response of the wide optical band sensed under UV visible along with optional near infra red light illumination. A security document is examined under static condition. A window signal signature is thus possible from photodetectors responses for various kinds of documents of different denominations, kinds and country of origin. A programmable technique for checking the genuineness of a security document is possible by feeding a unique code of the currency under examination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
    Inventors: Murli Manohar Joshi, Ram Prakash Bajpai, Gautam Mitra, Harish Kumar Sardana, Hari Narayan Bhargaw, Saroj Batra
  • Patent number: 7648016
    Abstract: A method of deriving a function for classifying items of currency. The method comprises processing training data vectors corresponding to features of a plurality of currency items, and derives a support vector machine classification function involving a plurality of support vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: MEI, Inc.
    Inventor: Gaston Baudat
  • Patent number: 7643902
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides for a method comprising determining sales data associated with a sales device (e.g., a vending machine) and adjusting a level of sensitivity of a currency validator based on the sales data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Walker Digital, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel E. Tedesco, Dean P. Alderucci, James A. Jorasch, Jay S. Walker, Michael D. Downs
  • Publication number: 20090294242
    Abstract: A bill acceptor includes a main body attached with a bill box at the back side, a transmission mechanism for carrying a bill or license into a passage in the main body for examination by a recognition unit inside the main body and returning the rejected bill or examined license and carrying the examined bill to the bill box, and a face panel, which is fastened to the front side of the main body and has an insertion slot for the insertion of a bill/license into the passage and a finger guide portion disposed at one lateral side of the insertion slot for the insertion of a finger to bias a jammed license out of the insertion slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL CURRENCY TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Cheng-Kang Yu, Wei Jr Chen, Shih-Chia Chen
  • Publication number: 20090260948
    Abstract: The present invention provides a money handling machine configured to selectively perform one of the following three processes: (A) a mass delivery process for transporting money inserted in a casing through a money insertion opening, to a money holding unit, by using a transport unit, and then transferring the money held in the money holding unit, into a money storage unit; (B) a process, in a mode with a delivery process, for performing a depositing process for depositing the money inserted in the casing through the money insertion opening, into the money storage unit, together with the delivery process for delivering the money stored in each recycling-style money storage unit, to the money storage unit; and (C) a process, in a mode without the delivery process, for performing the depositing process for depositing the money inserted in the casing through the money insertion opening, into the money storage unit, independently of the delivery process for delivering the money stored in each recycling-style mon
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: GLORY LTD., a corporation of Japan
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20090255776
    Abstract: Image data of an incuse/relief portion, formed on a surface of a medal, are acquired by capturing an image of the incuse/relief portion with an image sensor, disposed so as to oppose the medal substantially straightly, while illuminating light from a light source disposed obliquely above the medal, and image processing using two or more predetermined threshold values to multinarize brightness information, including shading related to the incuse/relief portion, in the acquired image data into three or more values is performed. By the image processing of multinarization into the three or more values, the medal surface is regionally divided into at least a profile region, a top surface region, and a bottom surface region in the incuse/relief portion and compared to an authentic medal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: Nihon Unica Corporation
    Inventor: Kunihiro Sugita
  • Publication number: 20090229949
    Abstract: A verification system for a banknote-and-coin handling system includes a banknote machine for depositing, dispensing, and sorting, a coin machine for depositing, dispensing, and sorting, and a monitor server. The coin machine for depositing, dispensing, and sorting includes a hopper, a discriminating portion, and coin storage portions. The banknote machine for depositing, dispensing, and sorting includes a banknote input portion, a deposit discriminating unit, and banknote storage portions. The monitoring server includes a verification instructing unit and a verification command transmitting unit. The banknote-and-coin handling system further includes a verification processing unit executing a verification process based on the verification command transmitted by said verification command transmitting unit, and a verification result transmitting unit transmitting a result of the verification of said verification processing unit to said monitor server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: Glory Ltd., a corporation of Japan
    Inventor: Tasuku Nakamoto
  • Publication number: 20090229950
    Abstract: A verification system for a banknote-and-coin handling system includes a banknote machine for depositing, dispensing, and sorting, a coin machine for depositing, dispensing, and sorting, and a monitor server. The coin machine for depositing, dispensing, and sorting includes a hopper, a discriminating portion, and coin storage portions. The banknote machine for depositing, dispensing, and sorting includes a banknote input portion, a deposit discriminating unit, and banknote storage portions. The monitoring server includes a verification instructing unit and a verification command transmitting unit. The banknote-and-coin handling system further includes a verification processing unit executing a verification process based on the verification command transmitted by said verification command transmitting unit, and a verification result transmitting unit transmitting a result of the verification of said verification processing unit to said monitor server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: Glory Ltd.
    Inventor: Tasuku Nakamoto
  • Patent number: 7584833
    Abstract: A coin discriminator measures both the surface and average electrical conductivity of coins in order to distinguish genuine minted coins from fake or bogus coins such as cast coins which may be nominally of the same material as a minted coin. The conductivities are measured using a coil to induce eddy currents within the coin. The high frequency components of the eddy current are monitored to measure the surface conductivity. The low frequency components are measured to monitor the bulk or average conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: ScanCoin Industries AB
    Inventor: Geoffrey Howells
  • Publication number: 20090218191
    Abstract: A cash receiver installed in an amusement machine for controlling the operation of the machine, including a face panel that has a coin slot, a coin-return slot and a vertical bill slot, a coin receiver unit that is affixed to the rear side of the face panel and has a coin entrance passage connected to the coin slot and a coin-return passage connected to the coin-return slot, and a bill receiver unit that is affixed to the rear side of the face panel and abutted against one side of the coin receiver unit and has a bill passage connected to the vertical bill slot. The client can insert a coin or a bill into the cash receiver to play the amusement machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL CURRENCY TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chih-Hsu Tsai, Chen-Yen Chiu, Hung-Yi Chang, Po-An Chen
  • Publication number: 20090205926
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a media recognition device. The device includes, an alley defined by a floor and a wall that is receptive of media passable therethrough, a movable member movable in response to contact with media as the media passes through the alley, a sensor in operable communication with the movable member configured to output a signal proportional to a position of the movable member, and a processor in operable communication with the sensor. The processor is configured to map the output signal of the sensor as the media passes through the alley, the processor is further configured to recognize or distinguish the map of the media from stored maps of known media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: GREENWALD INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: James S. Piccirillo, Eugene Domnich, Wayne J. Hooper, Christopher E. Lamourine
  • Publication number: 20090205927
    Abstract: A value medium processing apparatus includes a common rolling path on which the IC coin and the coin roll, a coin characteristic detector provided on a side portion of the common rolling path, an IC coin characteristic detector configured to detect IC coin rolling on the common rolling path; an inlet to a coin path on which the coin rolls and an inlet to an IC coin path on which the IC coin rolls, a medium sorter provided upstream of the coin inlet and the IC coin inlet; a communicator provided on a side of the IC coin path and communicating with the IC coin; and a controller actuating the medium sorter based on one of characteristic information from the coin characteristic detector and information from the IC coin characteristic detector, and switching the common rolling path to one of the IC coin path and the coin path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: Asahi Seiko Co.,Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Abe, Yoshinobu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7549526
    Abstract: A coin identifying sensor and a coin identifying apparatus has coin detecting sections (25X and 25Z) that are formed by relatively disposing a group of coin identifying sensors (21A, 21B, 21C and 21D) with each group provided with three aligned and integrated coin sensors. Each, of the sensors has a core wound with a coil. The sensors are disposed in a coin path in a direction crossing a movement direction of a coin. The first and second coin detecting sections are sequentially disposed on a coin path (4) to determine whether a coin is real or not using detection data of diameter, material and thickness of the coin based upon detection outputs sequentially obtained from the coin detecting sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ohtomo
  • Publication number: 20090120760
    Abstract: A coin deposit and dispensing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus is for use in a retail or bank environment by customers and cashiers. The apparatus is configured to receive coins, from either a customer or cashier, and dispense a specific composition of coins to a till for use by a cashier in a retail establishment or bank establishment. The apparatus of the present disclosure is capable for use as a cash deposit apparatus that receives cash (e.g., coins) from customers and provides customers a voucher, receipt, or credit corresponding to the value of the deposited coins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventor: Anders Sjostrom
  • Publication number: 20090107800
    Abstract: The counterfeit money discrimination support device is configured to eject only the banknotes of the same denomination as a predetermined denomination of money, as specific banknotes, among banknotes taken into the device from the exterior. The denomination and quantity of the specific banknotes ejected to the exterior are stored in a memory 23. Thereafter, the specific banknotes discriminated as being not counterfeit banknotes, by hand, are then taken again into the device. When the denomination and quantity of the specific banknotes taken again into the device respectively correspond to the denomination and quantity stored in the memory 23, the discriminating operation for the counterfeit banknotes is judged to have been properly completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: Glory, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Nishida, Kazuyuki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7520375
    Abstract: The banknote handling device of the invention notifies both a customer and a clerk at a financial institution of the occurrence of a counterfeit problem in the course of a transaction. When banknotes received from a customer include any counterfeit banknote, the banknote handling device collects the counterfeit banknotes to be not returnable to the customer. This desirably forbids circulation of the counterfeit banknotes. The occurrence of the counterfeit problem is described in a transaction statement on conclusion of the transaction. The transaction statement includes a transaction date/time, customer information, transaction details, a message, and financial institution information. The transaction details show the total amount of money received from the customer, the amount of money accepted for the transaction, that is, the amount of banknotes excluding the counterfeits, and the breakdown of the banknotes accepted for the transaction. The message suggests the customer a step to be taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Ina, Minoru Kadowaki, Kunihisa Matsuura
  • Publication number: 20090095593
    Abstract: A separate removable and replaceable coin validation unit for use in a coin-operated device has a housing and clip formations by means of which the housing is releasably held in a cavity in the coin-operated device. The coin validation unit is electrically operable and has electrical connectors which connect with complementary connectors in the cavity. The coin operated device is particularly a single bay parking meter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: IPS GROUP INC.
    Inventors: David William King, Alexander Schwarz
  • Publication number: 20090071793
    Abstract: A coin depositing and dispensing machine automatically returning coins remaining on a passage in case an error-stop during depositing operation. The coins on the passage are transported by the transporting unit for depositing in a reverse transporting direction reverse to the depositing and transporting direction, one coin in a sorting passage is transported to the upstream side from a rejecting portion. Then, the coins on the passage are transported by the transporting unit for depositing in the depositing and transporting direction, and eliminated by the rejecting portion. While the coins on the passage are transported by the transporting unit for depositing alternately in the depositing and transporting direction and the reverse transporting direction, the coins in the sorting passage are eliminated by the rejecting portion one by one.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: Glory Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Nagase, Keita Toyama, Keita Ito
  • Publication number: 20090057095
    Abstract: An anti-EMI lens module used in a bill acceptor is disclosed to include a circuit board, which has a plurality of electric recognition devices and a grounding device surrounding the electric recognition devices, a holder base mounted on the circuit board and holding a lens device and having a plurality of through holes respectively aimed at the electric recognition devices and a metal conducting layer disposed in contact with the grounding device of the circuit board and forming with the grounding device a grounding loop for absorbing and discharging static electricity during operation of the bill acceptor to protect the electric recognition devices against static electricity, radiowave and electromagnetic interference
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: International Currency Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Tien-Yuan Chien
  • Patent number: 7497314
    Abstract: Coins of different denominations can be deposited and sorted by a let off device. Sensors can determine the various denominations of the coins as the coins are translated by an endless conveying unit. Coin sorting units are positioned along the path of the coin transportation and can be activated by a control unit wherein coins can be diverted by a solenoid unit and also released through openings in guide-rails sized to the particular denomination of the coins. A detector unit can determine the passage of push units mounted on the endless conveyer unit to time the activation of the solenoids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masayoshi Umeda
  • Publication number: 20080314715
    Abstract: A security element comprises at least one oscillating circuit (O1-On) and a digital signature (2). Each oscillating circuit (O1-On) comprises a capacitor (C1-Cn) as resonance frequency setting element wherein the capacitor (C1-Cn) consists of two electrodes (8, 10) which are spaced apart from each other and a dielectric (9) that is sandwiched between the two electrodes (8, 10). The capacitor (C1-Cn) of each oscillating circuit has a random capacitance value which randomness is caused by a non-uniform thickness (d) of the dielectric (9) and/or by an inhomogeneous dielectric material. The digital signature (2) comprises reference values indicative for the resonance frequencies (f1-fh) of the oscillating circuits wherein the reference values are digitally signed with a secret key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.
    Inventors: Robertus Adrianus Maria Wolters, Mark Thomas Johnson, Pim Theo Tuyls
  • Publication number: 20080289929
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for adjusting a bank note processing machine by which threshold values of sensors are defined for recognizing the condition of bank notes. The invention starts out from a method for adjusting a bank note processing machine by which threshold values of sensors are defined for recognizing the condition of bank notes, whereby a number of bank notes is processed by means of the bank note processing machine and data of at least one sensor are stored, the condition of the bank notes is recognized by means of the stored data and at least one threshold value, a relation between the recognized condition of the bank notes and the at least one threshold value is determined and displayed, at least one threshold value is changed on the basis of the displayed relation, and at least the condition and the relation are determined again and the relation is displayed again.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventor: Kurt Wilfer
  • Publication number: 20080271973
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for checking banknotes in a banknote processing machine. In the case of the inventive apparatus for checking banknotes in a banknote processing machine, said apparatus having at least one sensor for detecting information that characterizes the banknotes to be checked, the sensor is connected to a flexurally rigid carrier via a first adhesive layer, the flexurally rigid carrier is connected to part of the apparatus for checking banknotes via a second, permanently elastic adhesive layer and/or is directly connected to the banknote processing machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Bloss, Wolfgang Deckenbach, Georg Vetter
  • Publication number: 20080251349
    Abstract: A paper note handling apparatus includes a pay-in and pay-out mouth through which a paper note is paid in or paid out, a conveyance for conveying the paper note, a discrimination part to discriminate authenticity and denomination of the conveyed paper note, a temporary hold part to temporarily hold the paper note, a storing part to store the paper note, and a shifter to shift a position of the paper note in a widthwise direction of conveyance. The shifter rotates in a direction inclined relative to a direction of conveyance of the paper note and comes into contact with the paper note to shift the position of the paper note in the widthwise direction of conveyance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventors: Shunsuke Hayashi, Masahiro Seguchi, Masayasu Ueno, Hidetoshi Hata, Hisanori Takemura, Junji Nishiwaki
  • Patent number: 7419059
    Abstract: A device for the handling of objects such as coins or similar items of different object types has a transport path with a plurality of separating stations for the objects. Each separating station is associated with an object type and is capable of assuming an activated position for separating a passing object, and a deactivated position, in which a passing object is not separated but continues past the separating station in question. The device has a sensor for detecting said object and for determining its object type, and a controller, which controls the separating stations by selective activation/deactivation depending on determined object types. The controller determines that a first train of objects has been detected, records information about an object type for said first train, determines that a second train of objects has been detected and records information about an object type for said second train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Scan Coin Industries AB
    Inventors: Jörgen Christiansen, Ricard Wanderlöf
  • Publication number: 20080149455
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for receiving and distributing currency. In particular, the present invention provides a novel apparatus for the inflow and outflow of a variety of currency. The systems of the present invention are capable of recycling a variety of currency from multiple countries and multiple denominations. The systems of the present invention have the added advantage of compact size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Per Christian Aas, John-Haakon Lippert
  • Publication number: 20080142335
    Abstract: A coin changer including a coin changer housing comprising a coin storage cassette. The coin storage cassette comprises a plurality of coin stores. A light source is located within the housing that directs light onto the coin stores with the light source providing sufficient light to allow a user to substantially view the coin stores in the absence of another light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: COIN ACCEPTORS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael A. Nogin, Richard H. Sorgea, Ian F. Murphy, Thomas S. Paczkowski
  • Publication number: 20080106726
    Abstract: A counterfeit detector is adapted for determining the authenticity of a monetary instrument having a barcode printed thereon. The counterfeit detector comprises a barcode scanner configured to scan the barcode and extract data therefrom. The counterfeit detector is configured to determine the authenticity of the monetary instrument by comparing the barcode data to a database of information related to the monetary instrument. The counterfeit detector may further comprise a local or central terminal in real-time communication with the barcode scanner. The terminal has a local database installed thereon which contains the information related to monetary instruments. the local terminal is configured to compare the barcode data to the local database information to determine the authenticity of the monetary instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventor: Ellis Park
  • Publication number: 20080067032
    Abstract: Vending machine system with a vending machine which comprises an interface for a communication with a coin validator/money changer and a counterfeit money detector/recycler, a communication interface being provided between the money changer and the recycler and an audit unit being provided in the vending machine with a communication interface for reading data of the vending machine, characterised in that a second audit unit is provided which is connected to the communication interface of the first audit unit, the second audit unit is connected to the connection of the money changer and the recycler as well as a communication interface for reading data from the vending machine, money changer and counterfeit money detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Applicant: National Rejectors, Inc. GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Schneider, Horst Buschmann
  • Publication number: 20080060908
    Abstract: A small-sized value medium processing device discriminates the genuine/false status of coins, and reads or write processes an electric information recording medium. The value medium processing device allows a coin slotted into a slot to roll along a coin path for discriminating the coin genuine/false status wherein the coin in the coin path can be cancelled by a canceling device. Slots for a coin and for an electric value recording medium are at least partly common with each other. A detecting device for the electric value recording medium is provided in the electric value medium slot. A deactivating device deactivates the canceling device based on detection by the detecting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Hiroshi Abe, Yoshinobu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7337889
    Abstract: An automated teller machine for handling a paper money, has a paper money path for transferring the paper money along a predetermined direction, and a detector for measuring a condition of the paper money, comprising a light beam emitter for emitting a light beam toward the paper money, and a light beam receiver for receiving at least one of the light beam reflected by the paper money and the light beam passing through the paper money.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Tamamoto, Yoshiyuki Omori, Mizuki Kaii, Kazushi Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20080047802
    Abstract: A bill handling apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention has a frame provided with a bill feeding path in which a bill is fed and with side wall portions provided in the width direction of the bill feeding path, a bill reading section installed in the frame to read a fed bill, and a bill identifying section for identifying authentication of the bill read by the bill reading section. The bill reading section is provided with a light guide member to which light is input from a light-emitting device as a light-emitting portion that applies the light to the fed bill, and the light guide member is installed to enter inside the side wall portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicants: Aruze Corp., Seta Corp.
    Inventor: Takao Nireki
  • Publication number: 20080000751
    Abstract: A coin identifying sensor and a coin identifying apparatus has coin detecting sections (25X and 25Z) that are formed by relatively disposing a group of coin identifying sensors (21A, 21B, 21C and 21D) with each group provided with three aligned and integrated coin sensors. Each, of the sensors has a core wound with a coil. The sensors are disposed in a coin path in a direction crossing a movement direction of a coin. The first and second coin detecting sections are sequentially disposed on a coin path (4) to determine whether a coin is real or not using detection data of diameter, material and thickness of the coin based upon detection outputs sequentially obtained from the coin detecting sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventor: Hiroshi OHTOMO
  • Patent number: 7305113
    Abstract: A paper-like sheet discriminator has reference rollers for detection of a thickness of a paper-like sheet and a detection roller opposing the reference rollers. The paper-like sheet is passed between the reference rollers and the detection rollers and its thickness is detected from a displacement of the lever. Wavelength components less than a specified wavelength are extracted from a signal indicative of a thickness of the paper-like sheet passing through the respective thickness detection sensors and appearance positions on the paper-like sheet are determined at which the extracted wavelength components being less than the specified wavelength and having amplitude either not less than or less than a constant value appear. The thus determined appearance positions are collated with precedently stored appearance positions so as to discriminate genuineness/spuriousness of the paper-like sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi-Omron Terminal Solutions, Corp.
    Inventors: Takashi Yoshida, Kenji Okuna
  • Publication number: 20070205078
    Abstract: A self-checkout terminal is provided which includes a coin recycling machine which stores a coin inserted into a coin inlet in accordance with a denomination of the coin and releases the sorted coin through a coin outlet. A coin receiver receives a coin released through the coin outlet. A coin path couples a coin slot and the coin inlet, and a fake coin path diverges from the coin path toward the coin receiver. A judging unit judges whether a coin inserted into the coin slot is real or fake, and a sorting unit sorts a coin judged to be fake into the fake coin path. When a coin inserted into the coin slot is judged to be fake and is sorted into the fake coin path, information that there is something wrong with the coin is provided to a customer. A coin as change is released through the coin outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Applicant: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Tashiro
  • Patent number: 7243772
    Abstract: A coin-validation arrangement in which a wavelet analysis is used to derive accurate information from signals related to coin sensors placed in the path of an input coin, this information being compared with corresponding information relating to sample coins, the result of the comparison giving rise to a “pass/fail” validation decision on the input coin. The information may be derived from a sampling of the sensor-related signal, a measurement of signal amplitudes for each point and a correlation of each amplitude with the corresponding amplitude of one or more preselected wavelets to provide a set of correlation coefficients. In an alternative embodiment the sampled sensor-related signal is subjected to a discrete wavelet transform operation using high-and low-pass filtering and subsequent subsampling stages, thereby producing a set of DWT coefficients. In either case the number of coefficients used in the comparison process may be reduced, thereby saving processing power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Marconi UK Intellectual Property Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A Harris, James Churchman, Darren Sharman
  • Patent number: 7225911
    Abstract: A bill handling machine comprises a storing box for storing bills of plurality of different categories together, an instruction input unit for receiving a recovery instruction to recover bills belonging to a specific category among the categories, a sorter that in response to a the recovery instruction sorts out bills belonging to the specific category from among bills stored in the storing box, and a conveyor for feeding the bills from the storing box and, according to the results of the sorting, conveying bills of the specific category to a predetermined recovery unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshinori Yokoi, Riichi Kato, Minoru Kadowaki, Atsuko Uozumi
  • Patent number: 7216754
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides for a method comprising determining sales data associated with a sales device (e.g., a vending machine) and adjusting a level of sensitivity of a currency validator based on the sales data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Walker Digital, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel E. Tedesco, Dean P. Alderucci, James A. Jorasch, Jay S. Walker, Michael D. Downs
  • Patent number: 7209582
    Abstract: A coin discriminating method includes steps of irradiating a surface of a coin with light, photoelectrically detecting light reflected by the surface of the coin, producing detected pattern data of the surface of the coin, binarizing corresponding reference pattern data so that “1” is assigned to pixel data having a signal intensity level equal to or higher than a predetermined signal intensity level and “0” is assigned to pixel data having a signal intensity level lower than the predetermined signal intensity level to produce reference bright portion pattern data consisting of “1” pixel data and reference dark portion pattern data consisting of “0” pixel data, extracting bright portion pattern data consisting of pixels corresponding to pixels included in the reference bright portion pattern data and dark portion pattern data consisting of pixels corresponding to pixels included in the reference dark portion pattern data from the detected pattern data, and discriminating whether or not the surface of the coin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Laurel Precision Machines Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masataka Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7204360
    Abstract: A selection mechanism for vending machines or other similar uses in which a separate coin or token entry point is provided for each product or selection offered. Each of these entry points includes a sensing device to determine the presence of a coin as it passes through. When a customer inserts a coin into the desired selector entry point, the presence and passage of the coin is latched into a logic circuit or microcontroller memory. All of the entry points are mechanically aligned to steer the coins into the input funnel of a coin acceptor/validator mechanism. After the coin is subsequently confirmed to be genuine the selector mechanism provides an output signal to indicate the selected option.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Inventor: Stu Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 7201268
    Abstract: A device for sorting discs or disk-like members of different identities (e.g. roulette chips) ejects the disks from a receptacle by means of a rotating wheel with numerous wells—(multi-chip storage compartments). Ejection of an article from the wells is achieved by an ejector lever making contact with an activated solenoid thus forcing the article at the bottom of the well, in conjunction with the momentum of the moving wheel, into a receiving space. The discs in the receiving spaces are continually replaced by newly-arriving discs which force the previously-positioned discs upwards into a column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Streamline Innovations GmbH
    Inventors: Ludo DeMeutter, Peter Wolfgang De Raedt