Patents Examined by Jeffrey A. Shapiro
  • Patent number: 9208632
    Abstract: A bill recognizing and counting apparatus includes an operation unit that receives setting of bill processing modes including a denomination mode, a counting mode, a different-denomination recognition mode, and an authenticity determination mode; a feeding and transporting mechanism; and a control unit that performs control for changing a processing speed according to the bill processing mode. When the bill processing mode is in the counting mode, the different-denomination recognition mode, or the authenticity determination mode, the control unit increases the processing speed by setting the feeding and transporting mechanism to a higher speed than the speed set in the denomination mode. The increase in speed is in accordance with a reduced time necessary to process a reduced amount of data associated with the denomination mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: GLORY LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyasu Sato, Shinji Matsuura, Teruo Sudo
  • Patent number: 9202325
    Abstract: A coin dispensing apparatus capable of dispensing coins of a plurality of denominations quickly and capable of being fabricated at a low cost is provided. A plurality of coin dispensing units each including a rotary disk having apertures for receiving coins supplied from a coin source are used in combination. Coins received in the apertures are moved along a carrying path. The coins are moved through a dispensing opening from the carrying path toward a coin outlet. A common driving device commonly rotates the disks of the units. A transmission device transmits a driving force of the driving device to the disks. A passage blocking member is formed in a dispensing opening and is selectively positioned at the non-blocking position or the blocking position while simultaneously rotating the disks of the coin dispensing units, thereby dispensing the coins using rotation of the disks based on a dispensing instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: ASAHI SEIKO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masayoshi Umeda
  • Patent number: 9196106
    Abstract: An automatic coin sorting device is provided. The sorting device may include a housing having a hopper configured for receiving coins, a coin tray coupled to the housing, wherein the coin tray is moveable from a first position to a second position, and a plurality of tubular coin receiving members removably secured to the coin tray, wherein each tubular coin receiving member is configured for receiving a different-sized coin. Each tubular coin receiving member includes an angled opening near one face of the coin receiving member to prevent jamming or back-filling of the coins when the coin receiving member is filled to capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: MerchSource, LLC
    Inventor: Mike Pierce
  • Patent number: 9189964
    Abstract: A present novel and non-trivial system, module, and method for presenting runway traffic information are disclosed. A partitioned runway awareness zone is established using data received from a source of navigation reference data, where such data could represent runway information, runway awareness zone information, or partitioned runway awareness zone information. After traffic data is received from a source such as an ADS-B, each section of the partitioned runway zone occupied by traffic is determined. Based upon the determination, an advisory data set comprising traffic information is generated and provided to a presentation system, where the advisory data set could include alert data based upon a level of threat. A presentation system used to present traffic information could include a visual display unit(s), an aural alert unit, and/or a tactile alert unit. A portable device such as handheld may be used to present traffic information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Sethu R. Rathinam, Sarah Barber
  • Patent number: 9189909
    Abstract: To provide a banknote handling apparatus (1) capable of reducing a waiting time of a customer, as compared with a case in which a general banknote replenishing operation is performed when a banknote to be dispensed falls short in a dispensing process. The banknote handling apparatus (1) includes a memory unit (32) configured to record the stored-number of banknotes stored in the banknote handling apparatus (1) by denomination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: GLORY LTD.
    Inventors: Isao Miki, Masao Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 9189906
    Abstract: A coin transport mechanism comprising: a first coin rotor including at least one coin receptacle for receiving a coin; a second coin rotor including at least one coin receptacle, the second coin rotor disposed proximal to the first coin rotor; wherein the first coin rotor is noncoplanar with the second coin rotor and includes a gated coin aperture, and wherein the second coin rotor is adapted to transport coins from a coin hopper to the first coin rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Innovative Technology Limited
    Inventor: Martin Sackfield
  • Patent number: 9189907
    Abstract: An adjusting device for a coin counting machine contains: a base including a plate member, an orifice, an adjusting hole, and a positioning hole. The plate member has the orifice screwing with a screw rod of an elastic fitting set, the adjusting hole, and the positioning hole. The adjusting hole has an adjusting post engaging with an elongated aperture of an adjustment piece, the positioning hole has a fixing post engaging with a fix aperture. An adjustment piece includes a tab, an extension, an arcuate sliding aperture, the elongated aperture, and the fix aperture. The elastic fitting set includes the screw rod, a resilient element, and a driving block, wherein the screw rod is screwed with the orifice via the arcuate sliding aperture and has the resilient element, and the driving block is fitted between the resilient element and the tab and is screwed with the screw rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Inventor: Chiu-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 9189905
    Abstract: The present invention provides a coin handling machine 11 which can handle a large amount of coins, has a transportation structure which can be simplified, reduced in size and cost, and can reduce the occurrence of trouble such as coin jams. The coin handling machine 11 includes a depositing and dispensing unit 13 which processes depositing and dispensing of coins, and a replenishing and collecting unit 14 which replenishes coins to the depositing and dispensing unit 13 and collects coins from the depositing and dispensing unit 13. The depositing and dispensing unit 13 includes a depositing and dispensing transport path 25, a depositing and feeding unit 31, a plurality of storing and feeding units 32, and an escrow unit 38.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: GLORY LTD.
    Inventors: Eisei Nishida, Kazuhiro Koumoto
  • Patent number: 9183692
    Abstract: Assisting users with controlling, navigating and performing any number of other operations for a secure storage apparatus is contemplated. The assistance may be in the form of easily navigable instructions/menus/screen and/or printed instructions, which may be optionally tailored to the particular operation contemplated for performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Fire King Security Products, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Smith, David Murch, John Rhoads, Matt Marquardt
  • Patent number: 9183687
    Abstract: Coin processing apparatuses, such as consumer or commercial coin processing apparatuses for counting and/or sorting coins, are described herein. The apparatuses can include coin conveyors having a plurality of individual coin carriers linked together to form a chain. In some embodiments, each of the coin carriers includes a corresponding pocket that is configured to receive a coin from a coin hopper as the carrier chain passes through the coin hopper during its cycle. The coin carriers can carry the coins past one or more sensors for identification or “discrimination” of the coin denomination. After discrimination, the coins can be knocked from the carrier pockets and into, e.g., a selected coin chute for transfer to a collection bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Outerwall Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas A. Martin
  • Patent number: 9177432
    Abstract: An apparatus for checking bank notes in a bank note processing machine includes at least one sensor. The sensor is arranged to determine the information characterizing the bank notes to be checked and is connected to a bending resistant carrier via a first adhesive layer. The bending resistant carrier is further connected to a component of the apparatus for checking bank notes and/or directly with the bank note processing machine via a second, permanently elastic adhesive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: GIESECKE & DEVRIENT GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Bloss, Wolfgang Deckenbach, Georg Vetter
  • Patent number: 9177431
    Abstract: A coin processing machine includes a coin support plate having a coin support surface defining a coin path extending from an intake location to a coin removal station. Recesses formed in the coin path resist stopping of coins along the coin path. The coin support plate forms part of a normally open control circuit that closes in response to a coin jam along the coin path. A controller in the control circuit responds to the circuit closing by stopping the flow of coins along the coin path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: GCCM, LLC
    Inventor: Gregory F. String
  • Patent number: 9168825
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid electric powertrain includes, in response to a request to increase a powertrain braking force on at least one of a plurality of traction wheels, (i) commanding at least one clutch to increase a gear ratio of a transmission, and (ii) during clutch stroke, commanding an electric machine to act as a generator such that the electric machine applies a braking force to at least one of the traction wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Walter Joseph Ortmann, Daniel Scott Colvin, Marvin Paul Kraska
  • Patent number: 9171414
    Abstract: A banknote validator (2) comprising: a first banknote input/output aperture (3); a second banknote input/output aperture (4); a banknote transport path (5) interconnecting the first banknote input/output aperture (3) and the second banknote input/output aperture (14); an intermediate validation transport branch (11) disposed between the first and second banknote input/output apertures (3, 4); and a diverter mechanism (12) disposed proximal to an entrance to said intermediate validation transport branch (11); characterised in that the diverter mechanism (12) is moveable between: a first position in which the banknote transport path bypasses the intermediate validation transport branch (11) providing a direct passage between the first and second banknote input/output apertures (3, 4); and a second position in which the banknote transport path is indirect between the first banknote input/output aperture (3) and the second banknote input/output aperture (4) and is via the intermediate validation transport branch
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Innovative Technology Limited
    Inventor: Martin Sackfield
  • Patent number: 9171412
    Abstract: A sensor for checking different features of value documents is arranged to carry out a self-test for testing its functionality. Before the sensor carries out its self-test, at least one of the features that is to be checked by the sensor is selected. It is provided in the self-test that the sensor rates a malfunction ascertained in the self-test differently and reacts to the ascertained malfunction differently in dependence on the selected feature. While a malfunction of the sensor has hitherto always led to a failure of the sensor, the sensor, despite ascertained malfunctions, can nevertheless carry out the check of certain features. It is achieved that the number of function failures of the sensor is reduced through the different reactions of the sensor to the ascertained malfunction in dependence on the feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: GIESECKE & DEVRIENT GMBH
    Inventors: Jorg Frankenberger, Michael Bloss, Erich Kerst
  • Patent number: 9155407
    Abstract: To provide either a facility comprising a plurality of stores that offer food and drink, and that treats customer seating for the plurality of stores as a shared space, or a method of attracting customers to said facility. This facility comprises: a traveling wheeled vehicle, which is capable of carrying customers on a tour of the shared space; and rotating tables. The rotating tables are configured such that tables are positioned upon rotating devices. The rotating devices comprise upper rotating bodies, further comprising central gears which are positioned in the centers of bases. The rotating devices further comprise: drive motors that are capable of rotationally driving the central gears; and casters that support the upper rotating bodies. The traveling wheeled vehicle and the rotating tables are positioned in the shared space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: BLD Oriental Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasushi Ochi
  • Patent number: 9159089
    Abstract: A novel and useful mechanism and method for processing transactions on a point of sale system comprising of a conveyor system which continuously moves when one ore more items or items are resting on the conveyor system, and a sensing system to capture the information necessary to identify the items on the conveyor. When all items are correctly recognized by the sensing devices, the customer is charged for the items and an invoice is printed. In the event all the items are not correctly recognized the captured information is forwarded to a remote location for automated recognition processing and manual identification, if necessary. Once all the items are successfully identified, the customer is charged for the purchase and an invoice is processed and sent to the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: TOSHIBA GLOBAL COMMERCE SOLUTIONS HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ehud Dov Karnin, Eugeniusz Walach
  • Patent number: 9159240
    Abstract: A tailored arrival allocation system (TAAS) for determining a descent profile for an aircraft is described. TAAS includes a gateway operable for establishing communications between TAAS and aircraft, and for establishing communications between TAAS and at least one of a source of weather data, an air traffic services facility, and an airlines operations center. A processing device communicatively coupled to the gateway calculates a descent profile based on data received from a plurality of an air traffic services coordination function, an airline operations center function, data from the aircraft, and data received from a weather station that allows the aircraft to meet the required time at one or more metering fixes during the descent. Output interfaces provide data relating to the calculated descent profile to the processing device. The gateway communicates with a flight management computer for the aircraft to incorporate the calculated descent profile onto the flight management computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Bradley D. Cornell, Robert W. Mead, Louis J. Bailey, Gregory T. Saccone
  • Patent number: 9159180
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for conveying at least one item of media. The apparatus includes a user interface comprising a media port and a user display. The apparatus also includes a shuttle carriage supporting a presentation platform and movable along a shuttle drive rail between a first end region thereof in which the presentation platform can be aligned at the media port and a further end region in which the presentation platform can be selectively aligned with a selected one of a plurality of possible handling ports of a multi-media station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Roderick George Paterson, Michael Clayton
  • Patent number: 9153086
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (10) for handling coins comprising a first supply unit (26) at a first side (22) of the device (10) for the input of coins, at least one coin processing unit (30) for processing the coins supplied via the first supply unit (26), comprising a coin storage system (32) that comprises at least two coin storages (54 to 68) for storing coins, wherein the coin processing unit (30) sorts the supplied coins at least according to one sorting criterion in the coin storages (54 to 58), and comprising a dispensing unit (28) provided at the first side (22) for dispensing the coins removed from the coin storage system (32). At a second side (42) a second supply unit (50) for the input of coins is provided, wherein the coins input via the second supply unit (50) can be supplied to the coin processing unit (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Starke, Thorsten Neumann