Star Wheel Patents (Class 453/35)
  • Patent number: 11852990
    Abstract: Provided are a counting assembly and a developing box. The counting assembly comprises a counting member for attaching to and detaching from an external counted member; the counting member comprises a rotating member and a toggling member, the rotating member receives driving force from outside to rotate and the toggling member is driven to rotate; the counting assembly further comprises a holding member in contact with the rotating and toggling members. During counting, the rotating member applies a discontinuous acting force to the toggling member through the holding member; when applied with the acting force, the toggling member is kept by the holding member at a static position where the counted member is continuously pressed; when not applied with the acting force, the toggling member rotates under the action of the counter force of the counted member along a direction opposite to the rotating direction of the rotating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: TOPJET TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xin Zhou
  • Patent number: 8439731
    Abstract: A compact inexpensive coin separating and transferring apparatus can separate coins and reliably delivering each one to a rotating transferring body. Coins or tokens are contacted by a holding surface on a pusher unit formed so as to project from an upper surface of a rotary disk to permit the coins to be sorted one by one and stored. The coins are each pushed by the pusher unit along a circumferential-direction of a fixed guiding ledge positioned above the rotary disk. The coin reaches a stationary state at a predetermined delivery position on a delivery support ledge. A holding ledge has a predetermined diameter formed at an outer perimeter edge of the pusher. The coin is removed by a rotary transferring body from the delivery position, and physical properties can be detected by a sensor while moved along a sensor-part guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masayoshi Umeda
  • Patent number: 7018285
    Abstract: A guiding structure for discs is disclosed. The guiding structure includes a hopper that dispenses discs one at a time, a guiding device that guides and aligns the dispensed discs, and a holding device for the discs that is located at the lower section of the guiding passageway. The guiding device may be detachably attached to the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Minoru Enomoto
  • Publication number: 20040249129
    Abstract: The invention concerns a novel Lactococcus lactis strain called LLO Lactococcus lactis strain and filed at the CNCM (National Micro-organism Culture Collection) under accession number CNCM-127 16. The invention is useful for seafood preservation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Patrice Daniel, Sylvie Lorre
  • Patent number: 6139419
    Abstract: A coin storage and dispensing apparatus for storing and dispensing coins from a gaming machine includes a frame member for mounting in the gaming machine and for positioning a respective first container device and a second container device at a diagonal angle to support a surface. The first and second container devices store loose bulk coins with a coin transporting device rotably mounted in the second container device to pick up coins and to drop them in the first container device. A transitional groove structure is provided for aligning coins with the coin transporting device. A pivotable support plate is directly mounted to the first container device to support its weight and a sensor can monitor the presence of coins in the first container device and activate the coin transporting device when a predetermined presence of coins is sensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Abe
  • Patent number: 5435778
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a coin counter for use with a coin handling apparatus for receiving coins at a first location and discharging the coins at a second location through a coin discharge slot remote from the first location. The coin handling apparatus includes a coin transport channel extending from the first location to the second location and dimensioned so that coins can move therein in a single, edge-to-edge file. The channel terminates at the coin discharge slot at the second location. A sensor is located proximate to the coin discharge slot for sensing the passage of each coin as it leaves the channel through the coin discharge slot. A counter means is coupled with the sensor for counting the total number of coins passing through the coin discharge slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: International Game Technology
    Inventors: Steven T. Castle, Daniel J. Waller
  • Patent number: 5306206
    Abstract: A coin feeding device is provided comprising a base plate adapted for mounting predetermined coins on one end thereof, including a scraper for scraping the coins towards the other or opposite end of the base plate along a predetermined coin feeding path. The scraper comprises a main rotating body rotatably mounted on the base plate and includes a coin feeding wing unit or finger assembly extending radially outwardly from the main rotating body. The coin feeding wing unit or finger assembly is used for feeding the coins to the other or opposite end of the base plate while traveling along the coin feeding path by virtue of the rotation of the main rotating body. The coin-feeding device includes a movable engagement piece biased to force one of the coins against the main rotating body along the coin feeding path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Abe
  • Patent number: 4773648
    Abstract: A slot machine of the type having a number of drums, an actuating lever, a kicker, a drum rotating mechanism, detecting mechanism for detecting any hit mode and a coin discharging mechanism. An actuating frame and a kicker engaging with the hook of the actuating lever are formed as different bodies. When the kick projections of the kicker hit the ridge of an index notched disk provided on the drum, it is allowed to escape in the reverse direction at once. The kicker is adapted for energizing operation when each kick projection enters a notch of a corresponding notched disk, whereby the kick projections are protected from excessive loading. Moreover, when the rotary drums are stopped, the hit mode according to the permutations displayed on the rotary drums is automatically detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1988
    Assignee: Warner Shokai Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshie Itoh
  • Patent number: 4752274
    Abstract: A coin dispensing apparatus is disclosed including a cylindrical coin container mounted on a substrate and connected to the bottom of a hopper for storing coins, a coin transporting rotary disc being rotated on the substrate in the container and having a plurality of coin receiving apertures and transporting arms radially extending between each adjacent pair of the apertures on the bottom of the rotary disc with a radial length such that their outer ends do not extend beyond a circle upon which lie the centers of the apertures, an outlet guide member mounted on the substrate in the container at the outlet portion opening an outlet slot and a scraper being rotated on the substrate outside the container synchronously with the rotary disc and having radial scraping arms of the same numbers as that of the transporting arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1988
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Abe
  • Patent number: 4746319
    Abstract: A count mechanism for a dispensing machine which delivers coins in a single file along a track has a star wheel in the path of travel of the coins. The star wheel is indexed one point for each coin which passes it. The star wheel can be locked against rotation by a latch which engages a point on the wheel and which is held disengaged by a first solenoid. A second solenoid assists in disengaging the latch from the star wheel. A spring biased pawl rides the periphery of the star wheel between points to prevent free rotation. The star wheel is provided with spaced reflective areas on its top surface and a pair of spaced optical sensors detect the presence and absence of reflective surfaces as the reflective areas pass beneath the sensors. The optical sensors generate a pair of out-of-phase pulses which are employed to count the coins. A mechanism is also provided to test for dirty conditions of the star wheel or optical sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1988
    Assignee: Brandt, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Zwieg, Charles T. Bergman