Patents Assigned to Asahi Seiko Co., Ltd.
  • Patent number: 10954061
    Abstract: A card cassette device of a card dispensing apparatus ensures elimination of measures for illegally opening a card outlet from the outside in a non-mounted state and makes it possible to open the card outlet according to the necessity in a mounted state, raising security level. A movable shutter for opening and closing a card outlet has a stopper member engaging hole and a lock member engaging hole. A stopper member is engaged with the stopper member engaging hole by a stopper member moving device, thereby fixing the shutter in its closed state in the non-mounted state. A lock member is engaged with the lock member engaging hole by a lock member moving device, thereby canceling the closed state of the shutter and locking the shutter in its open state in the mounted state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: ASAHI SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Alex Massey, Marcus John Willis
  • Patent number: 10896566
    Abstract: A coin input to a deposit opening is determined a denomination by a coin identifying device, and is allocated and held in a denomination storing and dispensing device in a course of being transported to a coin transporting and distributing device. The coin of a specified denomination is sent from the denomination storing and dispensing device based on a pay-out command, and paid out to a pay-out opening by a pay out transporting device. When the holding amount of the denomination storing and dispensing device becomes full, the coin is not allocated to the denomination storing and dispensing device by the coin transporting and distributing device, but is dropped to an overflow coin slot, guided to an overflow coin guiding tube juxtaposed to the denomination storing and dispensing device and held in an overflow coin storing unit arranged on the lower side of the denomination storing and dispensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: ASAHI SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masayoshi Umeda
  • Publication number: 20200302723
    Abstract: A method for setting discrimination criterion information pieces for one or more additional denominations in a coin discrimination apparatus is provided, which eliminates the task of visiting the installation location of an existing coin discrimination apparatus to exchange this apparatus for a new one including discrimination criterion information pieces for one or more additional denominations and the task of setting discrimination criterion information pieces for the one or more additional denominations manually in the apparatus. A target denomination is designated from current denominations whose discrimination criterion information pieces are stored in a coin discrimination apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: ASAHI SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji SANO, Hiroshi BANNO, Hiroshi OHTOMO
  • Publication number: 20200286319
    Abstract: A coin ejection apparatus makes it possible to surely prevent incorrect dispensing due to incorrect normal rotation of a rotary disk or disks in one or more coin ejection units in a non-driving state while permitting normal and reverse rotations of the disk in a driving state. An unnecessary rotation prevention mechanism has a prevention member that prevents unnecessary rotation of the disk in the non-driving state. Engagement/disengagement of the prevention member with a coupling gear is switched responsive to shift between the driving state and the non-driving state. When the relevant coin ejection unit is in the driving state, the prevention member and the coupling gear are disengaged, permitting normal and reverse rotations of the disk. When the relevant coin ejection unit is in the non-driving state, the prevention member and the coupling gear are engaged, preventing incorrect normal rotation of the disk to result in incorrect dispensing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: ASAHI SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takahito YAMAMIYA
  • Publication number: 20200286320
    Abstract: An apparatus for discrimination and conveyance of coins achieves downsizing of this apparatus itself with a simple and low-cost structure compared with conventional ones. The apparatus includes a coin separation unit, a coin discrimination unit, and a coin conveyance and distribution unit. Coins separated in the coin separation unit are moved in a first direction through a first delivering region and delivered to the coin discrimination unit. The coins whose denomination and authenticity are discriminated in the coin discrimination unit are moved in a second direction approximately perpendicular to the first direction in a plan view through a second delivering region and delivered to the coin conveyance and distribution unit. In the second delivering region, a conveying direction of the coins is changed from the first direction to the second direction. The coins are distributed while being conveyed in the second direction in the coin conveyance and distribution unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: ASAHI SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Minoru ENOMOTO
  • Publication number: 20200265666
    Abstract: A multi-unit coin ejection apparatus that drives selectively coin ejection units using a single motor is provided, which eliminates a selectively coin-emitting mechanism such as a shutter provided in each coin ejection unit. Coin ejection units are selectively driven by switching a destination of a driving force of a first motor using a switching unit. The switching unit has first coupling gears respectively provided for the coin ejection units, second coupling gears engageable with the corresponding first coupling gears, and a coupling gear displacement mechanism configured to displace the second coupling gears between a connection position and a non-connection position. The coupling gear displacement mechanism is operated in response to an instruction such that a designated one of the second coupling gears is disposed at the connection position and a remainder of the second coupling gears is/are disposed at the non-connection position in accordance with the instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: ASAHI SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takahito YAMAMIYA
  • Patent number: 10540837
    Abstract: A coin processing apparatus eliminates quickly and surely a coin congestion in the cases where (a) a Tawara state and/or a Keirin phenomenon of coins is/are generated on a conveying surface, (b) additional coins are overlapped or stacked on existing coins having a Tawara state or a Keirin phenomenon, and (c) additional coins are placed on the conveying surface on the upstream side of the existing coins. A conveying belt has a protrusion on its conveying surface. A reversing roller is provided opposite to the conveying surface. Screw-like members with spiral projections on their outer surfaces are respectively provided at two sides of the conveying surface. Coins placed on the conveying surface in their standing state are moved backward due to engagement with the screw-like members to topple down naturally toward the conveying surface during conveyance and then, moved forward due to engagement with the protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: ASAHI SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Abe, Masayoshi Umeda
  • Publication number: 20190311565
    Abstract: A coin discrimination system eliminates the task of visiting the location of an existing coin depositing/dispensing machine to exchange an existing coin discrimination apparatus incorporated in the machine for a new one and the task of additionally setting a new coin discrimination criterion manually to the existing apparatus. Pieces of specific information from pieces of sensor information are compared with pieces of current discrimination criterion information, conducting authenticity and denomination discrimination of coins. New discrimination criterion information setting coins are selected through judgement on whether the denomination of each coin is consistent with a target denomination and judgement on whether each coin is suitable for generating new discrimination criterion information while conducting the authentication and denomination discrimination. A piece of new specific information is extracted from the pieces of sensor information about the setting coins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: ASAHI SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi OHTOMO, Koji SANO
  • Patent number: 10255744
    Abstract: A disk transferring device transferring disks delivered one by one from an disk reception opening to an disk ejection opening includes: a disk guide path having left and right guide surfaces that guide a peripheral surface of each of the disks and front and back guide surfaces that guide an front surface and a back surface of the disk, the disk guide path extending from the disk reception opening toward the disk ejection opening; and a plurality of disk pushers protruding into the disk guide path and pushing the disks by making a rotational movement about a plurality of rotational axis lines approximately at a right angle with respect to the front and back guide surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: ASAHI SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Minoru Enomoto
  • Publication number: 20190073851
    Abstract: A coin input to a deposit opening is determined a denomination by a coin identifying device, and is allocated and held in a denomination storing and dispensing device in a course of being transported to a coin transporting and distributing device. The coin of a specified denomination is sent from the denomination storing and dispensing device based on a pay-out command, and paid out to a pay-out opening by a pay out transporting device. When the holding amount of the denomination storing and dispensing device becomes full, the coin is not allocated to the denomination storing and dispensing device by the coin transporting and distributing device, but is dropped to an overflow coin slot, guided to an overflow coin guiding tube juxtaposed to the denomination storing and dispensing device and held in an overflow coin storing unit arranged on the lower side of the denomination storing and dispensing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: ASAHI SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masayoshi UMEDA
  • Publication number: 20180362246
    Abstract: A card cassette device of a card dispensing apparatus ensures elimination of measures for illegally opening a card outlet from the outside in a non-mounted state and makes it possible to open the card outlet according to the necessity in a mounted state, raising security level. A movable shutter for opening and closing a card outlet has a stopper member engaging hole and a lock member engaging hole. A stopper member is engaged with the stopper member engaging hole by a stopper member moving device, thereby fixing the shutter in its closed state in the non-mounted state. A lock member is engaged with the lock member engaging hole by a lock member moving device, thereby canceling the closed state of the shutter and locking the shutter in its open state in the mounted state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: ASAHI SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Alex MASSEY, Marcus John WILLIS
  • Patent number: 10121308
    Abstract: A card dispenser is provided comprising a capture chamber configured to receive a card dispensed from a read position by a card feed mechanism, the capture chamber comprising walls defining an exit aperture for dispensing a card to a user. A capture flap is moveable from a first orientation to a second orientation, wherein in the first orientation the capture flap is arranged to block the exit aperture so as to prevent a card from passing through said exit aperture, and in the second orientation the capture flap is arranged to guide a card through said exit aperture. If a first output is received from a communication module, the capture flap is held at the first orientation such that a card dispensed from a read position moves under the influence of gravity through the capture chamber into a card bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: ASAHI SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Marcus Willis
  • Patent number: 10093475
    Abstract: A card cassette device ensures elimination of measures for illegally opening a card outlet from the outside in a non-mounted state and makes it possible to open the card outlet according to the necessity in a mounted state, raising security level. A movable shutter for opening and closing a card outlet has a stopper member engaging hole and a lock member engaging hole. A stopper member is engaged with the stopper member engaging hole by a stopper member moving device, thereby fixing the shutter in its closed state in the non-mounted state. A lock member is engaged with the lock member engaging hole by a lock member moving device, thereby canceling the closed state of the shutter and locking the shutter in its open state in the mounted state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: ASAHI SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Alex Massey, Marcus John Willis
  • Publication number: 20180253924
    Abstract: A coin processing apparatus eliminates quickly and surely a coin congestion in the cases where (a) a Tawara state and/or a Keirin phenomenon of coins is/are generated on a conveying surface, (b) additional coins are overlapped or stacked on existing coins having a Tawara state or a Keirin phenomenon, and (c) additional coins are placed on the conveying surface on the upstream side of the existing coins. A conveying belt has a protrusion on its conveying surface. A reversing roller is provided opposite to the conveying surface. Screw-like members with spiral projections on their outer surfaces are respectively provided at two sides of the conveying surface. Coins placed on the conveying surface in their standing state are moved backward due to engagement with the screw-like members to topple down naturally toward the conveying surface during conveyance and then, moved forward due to engagement with the protrusion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Applicant: ASAHI SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi ABE, Masayoshi UMEDA
  • Patent number: 9947161
    Abstract: Disk image acquiring device includes a guide for guiding a peripheral surface of a disk moving in a predetermined direction along a predetermined guide line, an imaging window defining an image-taking region on the one surface of the disk, a timing sensor to take images having a detection axis traversing a moving direction of the disk and outputting a timing signal as arrival of the disk at a predetermined position on the imaging window when the peripheral surface of the disk has been detected on the detection axis, and an imager which takes an image of the one surface of the disk via the imaging window based upon the timing signal, wherein a bisector of an angle between the guide line and the detection axis is utilized as a base line, and the imaging window is extended along the base line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: ASAHI SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Daishi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9878867
    Abstract: A card feeding apparatus realizes random and selective feeding of cards of different types or kinds. This apparatus includes a card supplying device, a card holding and feeding device, and a controller. The card holding and feeding device includes a table set having tables on which cards from the card supplying device are held, a table set supporting structure (e.g., a frame), a table set moving device (e.g., a lifting mechanism), and a card conveying device that conveys cards held on the tables. In response to a card feeding signal, the table set supporting structure is temporarily stopped using the table set moving device such that a target table designated from the tables by the said signal is located at the card conveying position, and the card holding and feeding device is activated, thereby feeding a card on the target table by the card conveying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: ASAHI SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takahito Yamamiya
  • Patent number: 9708125
    Abstract: A card processing apparatus detects an insertion/non-insertion of a card and a position of an inserted card regardless of any existence/non-existence of an opaque part on any position of the card. A first card detector is disposed at a first position in a conveying path, a second card detector is disposed at a second position after the first card detector, and a third card detector is disposed at a third position in the conveying path. A conveying mechanism is controlled by detection signals outputted from the first to third card detectors. Each of the card detectors include an operating member movable from a standby position to a shifted position due to contact with the card. A sensor detects any displacement of the operating member, wherein one of the detection signals provides a detection/non-detection of a card, an insertion or non-insertion of a card and an inserted card position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: ASAHI SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takahito Yamamiya
  • Patent number: D844045
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: ASAHI SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masayoshi Umeda
  • Patent number: D844048
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: ASAHI SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Abe, Masayoshi Umeda
  • Patent number: D915503
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: ASAHI SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masayoshi Umeda