And Movable Check Diverter Patents (Class 194/346)
  • Patent number: 11861965
    Abstract: The present invention includes a coin sorting part in which a plurality of coin sorting holes are formed in a circumferential direction and a coin separation plate on which a coin guide portion for guiding the coins to the coin sorting part is formed, a bad coin discharge unit installed in the coin guide portion of the coin separation unit and configured to detect whether the coin moving to be sorted is a bad coin and sort the bad coin, a coin supply unit configured to supply the coins to be sorted and moved along the coin guide portion, and a coin transfer unit elastically pressed against the coin separation unit and configured to move the coin input from the coin supply unit to the coin guide portion and the coin sorting holes in a state in which the coins are pressed against the coin separation plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Saitec Inc.
    Inventor: Nam Pyo Eun
  • Patent number: 11640740
    Abstract: A medium conveyance route switching device includes a support unit, a gate assembly, and a rotation mechanism. The support unit is located at a branching point of a first conveyance path, a second conveyance path and a third conveyance path where conveyance directions of a medium converge in three directions. The gate assembly includes a first to a third gate positioned on one ends of the first to the third conveyance path to guide at the branching point the medium to other conveyance paths than a conveyance path from which the medium is conveyed. The rotation mechanism includes a first actuator rotating the first gate to switch the medium conveyed from the first conveyance path to the second conveyance path or the third conveyance path, and a second actuator, when the first gate is rotated, rotating the second gate and the third gate in associated with the second gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: HYOSUNG TNS INC.
    Inventors: Hyun Soo Jang, Tae Gang Kim, Sung Ho Park, Hye Bin Oh
  • Patent number: 10949901
    Abstract: The systems and methods described herein may be used to distribute goods to a consumer. The system may comprise a distribution device and system, a regulatory system, a customer relationship management system and an artificial intelligence system. The methods may comprise distributing an item to a consumer in fully automated or a partially automated process. The methods may comprise distributing a item to a consumer in a manner compliant with regulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Frost, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew L. Frost
  • Patent number: 8991584
    Abstract: A coin depositing and dispensing machine is provided where its transport mechanism is simplified and downsized while coins to be dispensed are subjected to the identifying action. A coin passage 32 is provided in an annular form along which a single annular transporting belt 43 remains supported for transporting the coins. An input feeding portion 34, denomination-specific accommodating and ejecting portions 35, a bulk escrow portion 36 are disposed at the inner side of the coin passage 32. The coin passage 32 has a receiving and transporting zone 39 for receiving the coins released from the input feeding portion 34, the denomination-specific accommodating and ejecting portions 35, and the bulk escrow portion 36 and a sorting and transporting zone 41 for sorting and delivering the coins to the input feeding portion 34, the denomination-specific accommodating and ejecting portions 35, and the bulk escrow portion 36.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Glory Ltd.
    Inventor: Eisei Nishida
  • Patent number: 8839938
    Abstract: The coin receiving and dispensing machine of the present invention includes a plurality of storing and feeding parts provided for each of denominations, which dispense coins to a coin outlet as required, and each of the plurality of storing and feeding parts includes: a first storing part which receives coins that are input and classified by one of the denominations; a second storing part which is provided parallel to the first storing part in a horizontal direction, and stores coins separately from the first storing part; a first conveying part which separates and conveys the coins stored in the first storing part one by one; a differentiating part which differentiates the denominations of the coins conveyed by the first conveying part, and counts quantity of the coins; a coin switching part which switches the coins differentiated and counted by the differentiating part to either one of the coin outlet and the second storing part selectively; and a second conveying part which conveys the coins stored in the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Laurel Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tokuharu Shimizu, Hirohumi Haruna
  • Publication number: 20140199928
    Abstract: A disk sorting device includes a housing defining a disk transport path for conveying disks from a disk transferring device. A disk identifying device is located adjacent the disk transport path for identifying the type of disk passing along the transport path. A disk diverting mechanism in the disk transport path downstream of the disk identifying device is operable to divert disks in accordance with the type of the disk determined by the disk identifying device into a selected one of at least a return path in which a disk returns to the disk transferring device and a dispense path in which a disk is directed towards a dispense outlet. The disk transport path is oriented with a vertical component whereby disks pass along the path and the diverting mechanism under gravity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Inventor: Marcus John WILLIS
  • Patent number: 8727094
    Abstract: A coin separator and rejector apparatus that will electronically release and return jammed coins, tokens, slugs and the like is disclosed. A coin separator and rejector body is described having one or more downwardly inclined coin races formed therein. The rejector body has an upstream portion and a downstream portion. The coin races further comprise a first wall and a second wall wherein at least a portion of one of the race walls is pivotally connected with the rejector body. A first sensor is located in the upstream portion of the rejector body and a second sensor located in said downstream portion of said rejector body. An actuator is in mechanical connection with the pivotal portion of the race wall. A processor is in electrical communication with the sensors and with said actuator. A coin in an upstream portion of a coin separator and rejector is detected by the first sensor and sends a signal to the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Imonex Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Philemon L. Bruner, Kurt D. Regenbrecht, Gary L. Mee
  • Patent number: 8496100
    Abstract: A coin processing device includes a temporary coin-withholding mechanism for driving coin withholding levers using a single driving device. The temporary coin-withholding mechanism includes a single driving mechanism, a first coin withholding lever for withholding/releasing a coin guided by a first coin sorting route, a second coin withholding lever for withholding/releasing a coin guided by a second coin sorting route, and a link mechanism including detecting whether a coin is withheld in the first coin sorting route. When the retention is detected, the first lever is shifted from the withholding position to the release position to allow the driving mechanism to drive only the first coin lever without driving the second coin lever. When the retention is not detected, the second lever is shifted from the withholding position to the release position to allow the driving mechanism to drive the second coin withholding lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Nippon Conlux Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lachlan Edward Fergusson
  • Patent number: 8381893
    Abstract: The invention proposes an insertion device for coins for transferring said coins to a coin tester or to a coin-operated machine, having an insertion slot and having a coin outlet, between which is arranged a rotatable drum having a receiving region for receiving a coin, wherein in a receiving position, the receiving region is accessible to a coin which can be inserted through the insertion slot, and the insertion slot can be closed off by means of rotation of the drum. The drum having the receiving region is covered by a flap which can be opened in a controlled fashion in an ejection position for ejecting foreign material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Walter Hanke Mechanische Werkstatten GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christian Trenner, Andreas Fresenborg
  • Patent number: 8261904
    Abstract: A coin depositing and dispensing machine prevents a foreign object mixed together with coins put in a coin receiving port from causing a malfunction, facilitates distinguishing coins of a depositing and transporting system from coins of a dispensing and transporting system, and facilitates removal of a coin jam. Coins received from a coin receiving port are fed separately by a feeding unit to a depositing and transporting unit. A rotary disc rotated at a position tilted at a predetermined angle is used for the feeding unit. By using the rotary disc, only coins are fed to the depositing and transporting unit, and foreign objects are eliminated. The depositing and transporting unit and a dispensing and transporting unit are arranged opposite to each other in a machine body, and the depositing and transporting unit is tilted together with the rotary disc. Coins in each unit are thereby easily distinguished from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Glory Ltd.
    Inventors: Keisuke Nakazumi, Eisei Nishida, Takushi Ohno, Masashi Ito
  • Patent number: 8250776
    Abstract: A method of operating and managing a laundry room machine that performs a washing operation and a drying operation according to a payment made by customers is provided. The method includes setting information of payments and operating conditions and setting operating conditions according to a payment additionally inserted while a drying operation is performed, receiving information of a payment insertion from the payment device and operating a predetermined operation according to the set operating conditions, and receiving information of an additional payment insertion from the payment device while a drying operation is performed and performing an additional drying operation according to the information of the additional payment insertion based on the setting operating conditions according to the payment additionally inserted while the drying operation is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hea-Kyung Yoo, Tae-Hoon Lim
  • Patent number: 8162124
    Abstract: A currency changer device is adapted to be used with a point of sale terminal and includes a housing, a coin accepting tray carried by the housing for accepting a plurality of coins in bulk, and a bill accepter carried by the housing for accepting and sorting a plurality of bills in bulk. The currency changer device may also include a respective plurality of first and second currency changer device hardware components. The plurality of second currency changer device hardware components are identical to the respective plurality of first currency changer device hardware components. Both the first and second plurality of currency changer device hardware components include a first and a second coin sorter each in communication with the coin accepting tray, a first and a second plurality of respective coin bins in communication with the respective first and second coin sorters, and a first and a second plurality of bill cassettes in communication with the bill accepter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Inventor: Bruce M. Tabachnik
  • Patent number: 8069966
    Abstract: The invention relates to a coin selecting device. The device comprises a body with a series of passages, one of which is disposed facing a coin-receiving area and delimited laterally by two partition walls which each belong to respective adjacent passages. Each of the partition walls is articulated to the body about an axis, such that they can occupy two positions in relation thereto, namely: a position for receiving diverted coins and a rest position. The invention also comprises two controlled actuation devices to actuate to rotate each partition wall selectively to the position for receiving diverted coins, in which its respective passage faces the coin-receiving area, and at least one permanent pushing device for maintaining the partition walls in respective rest positions and/or returning the partition walls to the respective rest positions upon termination of the actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Industrias Lorenzo, S.A.
    Inventors: Angel Lorenzo Regidor, Juan Jose Verdu Martinez
  • Patent number: 8069967
    Abstract: A downstream side of a chute associated with at least one sorting hole is branched into a first chute and a second chute, through which coins ejected from the sorting hole are guided into first and second temporary storages, respectively. A route-switching mechanism is also provided that switches, between the two chutes, a route of the coins ejected from the sorting hole. The following control is conducted for the coins of a denomination to be ejected from the sorting hole. (i) Switching the route of the coins ejected from the sorting hole from the first chute to the second chute in appropriate timing to ensure that the last coin (CN) to be received into the first temporary storage enters the first chute, and (ii) controlling an ejection mechanism to eject, among coins following the last coin, all coins that have reached the ejection mechanism (6a) earlier that the above route-switching operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Glory Ltd.
    Inventors: Yushi Hino, Shungo Yoshino, Yoshikatsu Oota, Tatsuya Oonishi
  • Patent number: 7987961
    Abstract: A coin dispensing apparatus, which ejects coins by squeezing them substantially chordally between an element on a rotor and an ejector, has a variable height rotor (3), an improved two-part coin ejector (10a, 10b). A optical sensor for detecting coins being ejected positive detects both the presence and absence of coins in a coin path. Also, a payout device comprising a first coin dispensing device (61) including a dispensed coin type detector and a second coin dispensing device (62). The first coin dispensing device (61) is used to store coins of plurality of large denominations and is used initially for paying out an amount. The second coin dispensing device (62) is used for a single low denomination coin type and coins are dispensed from the second coin dispensing device (62) after the first coin dispensing device has been used as much as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Money Controls Limited
    Inventors: Malcolm Reginald Hallas Bell, Phil Richardson, Peter Crossan, David F Ellwood
  • Patent number: 7946407
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Abe, Yoshinobu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7908169
    Abstract: A method of leasing a gaming machine is provided that includes determining a monetary average machine net win in monetary units per gaming machine per unit of time for a group of existing gaming machines, receiving the leased gaming machine, and determining a monetary payment amount for the leased gaming machine for a second time period based on the average machine net win, the monetary payment amount equaling a percentage of a total coin-in amount wagered at a new leased gaming machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Mark Hettinger
  • Patent number: 7890365
    Abstract: A method of leasing a gaming machine is provided that includes determining a monetary average machine net win in monetary units per gaming machine per unit of time for a group of existing gaming machines, receiving the leased gaming machine, and determining a monetary payment amount for the leased gaming machine for a second time period based on the average machine net win, the monetary payment amount equaling corresponding to a flat fee amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Mark Hettinger
  • Patent number: 7854309
    Abstract: A valve medium processing device for IC coins and coins includes a housing having an insertion slot with an IC coin passage connected to receive IC coins from the insertion slot. A coin passage is also connected to receive coins from the insertion slot. A retaining unit for IC coins selectively stops and releases an IC coin, so that a read and/or write unit can establish a value for the IC coin. An IC coin allocating unit is positioned downstream in the IC coin passage for directing an IC coin to one of an IC coin storage passage and a retain passage. A coin allocating unit allocates a coin to one of a coin storage passage and the return passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Abe, Yoshinobu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7712597
    Abstract: A device for sorting coins in at least four coin tubes of a coin changer that leave a coin testing device, the coin tubes being located in a common plane, the device comprising a housing having a substantially vertical wall, a first gate element including a first runway inclined relative to a horizontal level and a barrier portion at the lower end of a first runway, the first gate element being supported for movement approximately perpendicular to wall and actuable by a first electro magnet between two positions, in the first position the first runway projecting from wall and the first barrier portion together with wall forming a passage whereby a coin may roll along the first runway through the passage while in the second position the runway extends into wall and the first barrier portion is adjacent to wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: National Rejectors, Inc. GmbH
    Inventor: Detlef Frost
  • Publication number: 20100084421
    Abstract: A system and method for directing a consumer through a vending machine transaction. The system and method include a UI guide comprising visual cues to direct a consumer to insert a minimum amount of money, make a production selection and confirm the product selection. The system and method provide for the consumer to cancel the transaction and request that return of inserted coins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: CRANE CO.
    Inventors: Ray Melton Lazalier, Jack Edward Anderson, Martin Shawn Egan, David Aguirre, Gerald Joseph Podgorny, Sachin Gopal Nagane, Ignacio Santa Cruz, Ronald Henry Krob, JR.
  • Patent number: 7681707
    Abstract: A drawerless point of sale system includes a point of sale terminal and a currency changer device in communication with the point of sale terminal. The currency changer device is adapted to accept cash in bulk for a cash transaction and includes a housing, a coin accepting tray, a coin sorter, a plurality of respective coin bins, and a coin dispenser. The currency changer also includes a bill accepter/dispenser carried by the housing for accepting, sorting and dispensing bills, and a plurality of bill cassettes carried by the housing and in communication with the bill accepter/dispenser for receiving a respective plurality of similar bills from the bill accepter and for dispensing a respective plurality of bills responsive to said point of sale terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Inventor: Bruce M. Tabachnik
  • Patent number: 7677381
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Asahi Sieko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Abe, Yoshinobu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7661520
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of determining completion of coin insertion capable of easily and reliably determining whether or not a number of coins required for purchasing an article has been inserted. A coin holding portion (105) is constructed such that coins are retained in row in the coin holding portion (105) being electrically connected to each other in series. Further, a first electrode (121) that comes into contact with the coin located at one end side of the row is provided in the coin holding portion (105); and a second electrode (123) that comes into contact with the coin located at the other end side of the row is provided in the coin holding portion (105). The coin holding portion (105) is constructed to detect an electric current between the first electrode (121) and the second electrode (123) to determine whether or not the required number of coins has been inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Takashi Kumabe, Minoru Honjo
  • Patent number: 7635059
    Abstract: A coin separator and rejector apparatus that will electronically release and return jammed coins, tokens, slugs and the like is disclosed. A coin separator and rejector body is described having one or more downwardly inclined coin races formed therein. The rejector body has an upstream portion and a downstream portion. The coin races further comprise a first wall and a second wall wherein at least a portion of one of the race walls is pivotally connected with the rejector body. A first sensor is located in the upstream portion of the rejector body and a second sensor located in said downstream portion of said rejector body. An actuator is in mechanical connection with the pivotal portion of the race wall. A processor is in electrical communication with the sensors and with said actuator. A coin in an upstream portion of a coin separator and rejector is detected by the first sensor and sends a signal to the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Imonex Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Philemon L. Bruner, Kurt D. Regenbrecht, Gary L. Mee
  • Patent number: 7614544
    Abstract: An intermediate cash box includes a flap assembly that is pivotally mounted in a housing, said assembly forming a receptacle for coins in its resting position. When the flap assembly is pivoted in a controlled manner, this releases the coins into a return channel or a cash box. The flap assembly comprises two V-shaped flaps, each flap being assigned to a pivotally mounted gate lever with a slide-gate track that guides the displacement of the flap. A rotatably mounted displacement transfer element, which is driven by a drive, is in contact with the gate levers and transfers the displacement of the drive to one of the respective gate levers in order to pivot the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Walter Hanke Mechanische Werkstatten GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Dietmar Trenner, Roland Griese
  • Publication number: 20090267732
    Abstract: There is disclosed a single space parking meter that includes a low powered radio for communicating with a mobile access point. There is also provided a parking meter management system comprising a single space parking meter and a mobile access point. The mobile access point comprises a coin collection cart, and a mobile data collection terminal including a wireless radio for communicating with the wireless radio of the single space parking meter. Also disclosed is a method of managing single space parking meters comprising the steps of collecting and storing meter information in a single space parking meter, receiving at a main electronics board of the single space parking meter a transmit signal, and transmitting the meter information to a mobile access point using a low powered radio of the single space parking meter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Gregory Emile Chauvin, Neil Stuart Erskine, George Allan Mackay
  • Patent number: 7591362
    Abstract: A device for sorting, counting and/or examining objects of a collective of objects, in particular, flat objects such as coins or the like, the collective of objects containing objects of different features, comprising an object individualizing device for individualizing the objects of the collective of objects, an object track along which the individualized objects move, after they have left the object individualizing device, an object accelerating means for accelerating the objects when leaving the object individualization device, an object recognition means for recognizing objects having different features, and a means for selectively conveying the objects depending on one or more features of the objects, wherein the object track provides an air cushion on which the objects float.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: CountR GmbH
    Inventor: Dominik Winau
  • Publication number: 20090205928
    Abstract: An electronic coin checker is disclosed, comprising a coin insert, a coin running track, in the region of which at least one checking device, for checking the coins, is arranged and a deflector. According to the result from the checking device, the deflector may be placed in a withdrawn position, opening the acceptance channel, or in an extended position, in which the coin is deflected into a return channel which ends in a return opening in the front region of the coin checker. The deflector comprises means for clamping which clamp a false coin introduced through the return opening in the extended state of the deflector, by means of withdrawing the deflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: WALTER HANKE MECHANISCHE WERKSTÄTTEN GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Roland Griese
  • Publication number: 20090139829
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for sorting coins, tokens, chips and the like having a chute which has at least one inlet and a plurality of outlets and which possesses a flat, substantially rectangular cross-section, in which a movable shunt is associated with at least one of the outlets, the shunt being movable between a channeling away position engaging into the chute and a passage position. It is proposed to provide the chute with at least three or also more outlets and to arrange them in a special manner in order to achieve a compact construction without any larger height losses despite the increased number of outlets. The chute has at least two flat side outlets which are arranged above one another in the falling direction through the chute and which branch off the chute at a flat side of the chute and which also have a base outlet which substantially branches off the chute in the falling direction, with a respective shunt being associated with the flat side outlets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Johann F. Graf, Marek Gawel
  • Patent number: 7516830
    Abstract: The invention relates to a coin distributor, containing a deflection unit comprising a displaceable deflection member for sorting coins into different coin slots. The distributor is provided with at least one device for detecting the passage of a coin through a coin shaft, said device comprising at least one emitter and a beam switcher, in addition to a beam receiver. The beam switcher is fixed to the displaceable deflection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Walter Hanke Mechanische Werkstatten GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Roland Griese, Dietmar Trenner
  • Publication number: 20090078531
    Abstract: A device for sorting coins in at least four coin tubes of a coin changer that leave a coin testing device, the coin tubes being located in a common plane, the device comprising a housing having a substantially vertical wall, a first gate element including a first runway inclined relative to a horizontal level and a barrier portion at the lower end of a first runway, the first gate element being supported for movement approximately perpendicular to wall and actuable by a first electro magnet between two positions, in the first position the first runway projecting from wall and the first barrier portion together with wall forming a passage whereby a coin may roll along the first runway through the passage while in the second position the runway extends into wall and the first barrier portion is adjacent to wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: NATIONAL REJECTORS, INC. GMBH
    Inventor: Detlef Frost
  • Publication number: 20090071795
    Abstract: A coin-guiding plate includes: a fixing segment; a guiding segment extending from the fixing segment, and having opposite first and second sides, a second guiding portion being recessed relative to a first guiding portion at the second side, the first guiding portion having a pointed tip opposite to the second guiding portion; and a blocking member formed at a junction of the fixing segment and the second guiding portion. The fixing segment is adapted to be fixed to a housing such that the guiding segment extends into a groove of a rotary plate that receives coins, and such that the first and second sides respectively face toward and away from a central plate portion of the rotary plate. The blocking member is adapted to form a gap with a groove bottom having a size for allowing at most one coin therethrough when the fixing segment is fixed to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventor: Shu-Chuan Chung
  • Publication number: 20090008215
    Abstract: The application relates to money item dispensing apparatus (1, 123) having a money item acceptor (10, 124) and a hopper arrangement (23, 126). The application further relates to money item dispensing apparatus (1) having sorting means (15, 16, 17) operable to selectively direct a money item (12) to one of a first money item store (27) and a second money item store (142), to money item dispensing apparatus (139) having two hopper arrangements (23, 150), to a money item acceptor (10) having a self-clearing mechanism (37, 38), to a money item conveyor (160), to a method of purging the money items in a money item dispensing apparatus, to money item dispensing apparatus (1, 123, 139) having means for ejecting a money item from a receptacle through an outlet via a first path to a return tray and via a second path into a cashbox, to a method of filling a money item dispensing apparatus (180) and filling apparatus (170) for filling a money item dispensing apparatus (180).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: MONEY CONTROLS LIMITED
    Inventor: Malcolm Reginald Hallas Bell
  • 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: 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: 7299910
    Abstract: A coin validator includes a coin insertion opening (40), a coin return opening (45) and a structure defining a coin path (30) from the coin insertion opening to the coin return opening. The coin path includes a return region (59) that extends upstream from the coin return opening, and means (55) to detect and identify an object in a detection region (54) of the coin path. Gate means (56) in the coin path between the detection region and the return region is responsive to identification of the object to either divert the object from the coin path or constrain it to traverse the path to the coin return opening. In one aspect, part (10) of the structure is actuable to move so as to widen substantially the whole of the coin path including the return region, whereby to facilitate clearance of jams in the coin path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Microsystem Controls Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Peter Ronald Smith
  • Patent number: 7028827
    Abstract: A coin sorting and counting machine and a method for operating it to automatically dispense cash vouchers based on the value of the counted coins, manufacturers' coupons and store coupons. Coins are placed in a hopper tray. When the hinged tray is lifted, the coins travel through a waste management system and into the coin sorting and counting apparatus. The value of the coins and the number of coins within each denomination are displayed as the coins are counted. After sorting, the coins fall into a temporary holding area. At this point the transaction can either be canceled or accepted. If the transaction is canceled, the coins are returned. If the transaction is accepted, the coins fall into a storage area and the user is issued a cash voucher and a series of store coupons. Manufacturers' coupons are dispensed regardless of whether or not the transaction is accepted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Coinstar, Inc.
    Inventors: Jens H. Molbak, Vae E. Sun
  • Patent number: 6991530
    Abstract: A coin sorting apparatus has a passage member provided with an ejecting hole and a guide member extended on a passage surface of the passage member. A conveyor belt holds coins together with the passage surface to convey coins along the guide member. A support roller is disposed under an ejecting hole opposite to the conveyor belt. The ejecting hole is contiguous with the guide member and has a guiding slide wall that extends obliquely away from the guide member toward a downstream side of the passage member. The support roller can be turned between a coin-passing position where its upper end is at a level not lower than that of the upper edge of the guiding side wall and a coin ejecting position where the upper end is at a level lower than that of the upper edge of the guiding side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Glory Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yushi Hino, Masaharu Tochio, Daisuke Hoshino, Kisho Yanase
  • Patent number: 6991083
    Abstract: The bill validator disclosed is provided with a plurality of pathway selectors at a position nearer to the inlet than the outlet, wherein the selectors select the pathways in respective different phases for the pathways to form a cross between the plurality of pathway selectors in every pathway selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Yoshioka, Motoki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 6896114
    Abstract: A coin dispensing apparatus which is simple in structure and can prevents rise in cost and money exchange fraud. The apparatus comprises an inserting aperture 2 which is provided at the upper part of the body 1 and into which coins 3 are put, a sorting unit 4 which comprises a coin discriminating device 40 discriminating genuineness of coins 3 put into it through the inserting aperture 2, and sorts the coins so discriminated, a coin storing unit 6 which is located under the sorting unit 4 and stores coins 3 sorted every coin kind, a holding unit 5 which is provided between the coin storing unit 6 and the sorting unit 4, and holds temporally coins 3 sorted by the sorting unit 4 every coin kind, and a coin repayment unit 7 which is provided at the lower part of the body 1 and returns coins 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Matsumoto, Toshikatsu Kamoda
  • Patent number: 6817463
    Abstract: A coin collection system for a gaming machine comprises a coin outlet for dispensing coins and a coin tray beneath the coin outlet. In one aspect of the invention, a movable member is coupled to the gaming machine and is operable to assist in guiding the dispensed coins from one of the coin outlet and the coin tray to a coin collection cup. In another aspect, a guiding member is positioned proximate to the coin outlet and is operable to divert the dispensed coins away from the coin tray and into a coin collection cup. In a further aspect, a mechanical element holds a coin collection cup in front of the coin tray so that the coins dispensed into the coin tray can be scooped into the held coin collection cup. In yet another aspect, the coin collection cup itself is sized to fit within the coin tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventor: Louis J. Nicastro
  • Patent number: 6766892
    Abstract: A coin discrimination apparatus and method is provided. Coins, preferably after cleaning, e.g. using a trommel, are singulated by a coin pickup assembly configured to reduce jamming. A coin rail assists in providing separation between coins as they travel past a sensor. The sensor provides an oscillating electromagnetic field generated on a single sensing core. The oscillating electromagnetic field is composed of one or more frequency components. The electromagnetic field interacts with a coin, and these interactions are monitored and used to classify the coin according to its physical properties. All frequency components of the magnetic field are phase-locked to a common reference frequency. The phase relationships between the various frequencies are fixed, and the interaction of each frequency component with the coin can be accurately determined without the need for complicated electrical filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Coinstar, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Alan Martin, Mark Louis Waechter, Rodrigo Berho, John Partlow
  • Patent number: 6752254
    Abstract: An automatic coin machine having a redundant coin processing system with at least two coin processing mechanisms. The first or the active coin processing mechanism is initially set up to receive coins from a coin diverter which is in communication with a coin collection device. While the active coin processing mechanism is processing the coins received from the coin diverter, the inactive or the second coin processing mechanism can be serviced without affecting operation of the active coin processing mechanism. When the first coin processing mechanism becomes disabled, in need of service, or is otherwise idle, the coin diverter is switched from the first coin processing mechanism to the second coin processing mechanism, thus making the first coin processing mechanism inactive, and at the same time, making the second processing mechanism active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Inventors: Jim Allen, Dana Alan Dick, David C. Allen, Sr., Malcolm C. Talley
  • Patent number: 6725995
    Abstract: A discrimination object deflecting apparatus can discriminate and sort medals quickly in an amusement facility or the like. The apparatus is composed of a discrimination section for continuously discriminating continuously moving medals, a passage for continuously moving the discriminated medals according to a discriminating speed of the discrimination section, a deflection passage connected to one side of the passage, a deflection drive section which is provided on the other side of the passage to be countered to the deflection passage and is actuated according to a discriminating signal of the discrimination section and flips the medal moving along the passage towards the deflection passage, and a control section for controlling to drive the deflection drive section according to the discriminating signal of the discrimination section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Unirec Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 6644456
    Abstract: An electronic coin checker is proposed which has a coin entry channel, in the region of which a sensor arrangement is disposed, and has a flap-shaped coin switch and a control device. In dependence on the signals of the sensor arrangement, the control device controls the coin switch to accept a coin running through the coin entry channel into an acceptance shaft, or into a return channel to return the coin. The flap-shaped coin switch has a sloping extension inclined towards the runway of the return channel, on which the coin slides away in the return position of the switch, alters its inclination and falls onto the runway of the return channel. The boundary wall, lying opposite the coin switch, of the return channel is configured inclined in the running direction, and thus a further alteration in inclination takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Walter Hanke Mechanische Werstätten GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Dietmar Trenner
  • Patent number: 6637578
    Abstract: A coin detaining portion for temporarily detaining inserted coins passing through a coin sorting passage is situated adjacent to the denomination separating portion situated at the farthest upstream location of the coin sorting passage having arranged therein a plurality of denomination separating portions for separating inserted coins identified as genuine into different coin passages on the basis of their denomination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nippon Conlux
    Inventors: Takashi Ono, Kenji Nakajima, Shinichi Kosugi, Mitsugu Mikami
  • Patent number: 6607063
    Abstract: In a coin mechanism to which the present invention is applied, a coin of five hundred yen whose holding is released is distributed by a fifth distributing device to a return passage or a coin containing passage. The coin of five hundred yen distributed by the fifth distributing device is distributed by an eighth distributing device to a coin tube or a coin box. As mentioned above, the coin whose holding is released is distributed to a change outlet, the coin box, or the coin tube at a front stage of entering the coin containing part. Accordingly, it is unnecessary to provide another distributing device at a part of the coin tube like the prior art, and the number of coins to be contained in the coin tube is increased. Furthermore, it is possible to set the number of coins to be contained in the coin tube at a small number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Toshitomo Kuwabara, Hideaki Yanagisawa, Tetsuya Mashimo
  • Patent number: 6578696
    Abstract: A coin escrow apparatus for use with a pay telephone includes a frame defining accept and reject coin paths, and including a toggle mechanism for the temporary storage of coins independent of coin size and thickness, a coin accept gate mechanism, a coin release gate mechanism that allows coins to be either refunded or cashed out, a cash and/or refund gate mechanism, a coin reject path, a foreign object return path, and a coin deposit path. The toggle mechanism includes pairs of toggles that pivot to selectively block the coin accept path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: British Telecommunications public limited company
    Inventor: Steven M. Faes
  • Patent number: 6520308
    Abstract: A coin discrimination apparatus and method is provided. Coins, preferably after cleaning, e.g. using a trommel, are singulated by a coin pickup assembly configured to reduce jamming. A coin rail assists in providing separation between coins as they travel past a sensor. The sensor provides an oscillating electromagnetic field generated on a single core. The oscillating electromagnetic field is composed of one or more frequency components. The electromagnetic field interacts with a coin, and these interactions are monitored and used to classify the coin according to its physical properties. All frequency components of the magnetic field are phase-locked to a common reference frequency. The phase relationships between the various frequencies are fixed, and the interaction of each frequency component with the coin can be accurately determined without the need for complicated electrical filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Coinstar, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Alan Martin, Mark Louis Waechter, Rodrigo Berho, John Partlow