Patents by Inventor Kenji Okuna

Kenji Okuna has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7988141
    Abstract: A bill deposit/withdrawal machine includes a deposit/withdrawal port, a bill discriminating unit, a plurality of bill accepting boxes and a bill transport path which connects the deposit/withdrawal port and the bill accepting boxes through the bill discriminating unit which transports bills. The deposit/withdrawal port and the bill discriminating unit are disposed in an upper part of the machine, and the bill accepting boxes are disposed in a lower part of the machine. The bill transport path includes an upper bill transport path provided in the upper part of the machine, and a lower bill transport path provided in the lower part of the machine. The lower bill transport path is installed along the bill accepting boxes and includes a mechanism for bidirectionally transporting bills and a switchable gate connecting with one of the bill accepting boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi-Omron Terminal Solutions, Corp.
    Inventors: Riichi Katou, Kunihisa Matsuura, Itsunori Utsumi, Kenji Okuna
  • Publication number: 20100164161
    Abstract: A bill deposit/withdrawal machine includes a deposit/withdrawal port, a bill discriminating unit, a plurality of bill accepting boxes and a bill transport path which connects the deposit/withdrawal port and the bill accepting boxes through the bill discriminating unit which transports bills. The deposit/withdrawal port and the bill discriminating unit are disposed in an upper part of the machine, and the bill accepting boxes are disposed in a lower part of the machine. The bill transport path includes an upper bill transport path provided in the upper part of the machine, and a lower bill transport path provided in the lower part of the machine. The lower bill transport path is installed along the bill accepting boxes and includes a mechanism for bidirectionally transporting bills and a switchable gate connecting with one of the bill accepting boxes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Riichi Katou, Kunihisa Matsuura, Itsunori Utsumi, Kenji Okuna
  • Patent number: 7644914
    Abstract: A bill deposit/withdrawal machine including a deposit/withdrawal port for delivering the bills deposited by users and discharging bills to users. The deposit/withdrawal port includes a bill hopper for accepting bills deposited by users and discharging bills to users, a delivering mechanism for delivering bills deposited by users, and a push plate operation mechanism for moving a push plate which forms an accepting unit and which supports bills. The bill hopper is movable by rotation operations with a bill delivering side as a fulcrum, and the delivering mechanism includes at least a gate controller which does not rotate in a delivering direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Riichi Katou, Kunihisa Matsuura, Itsunori Utsumi, Kenji Okuna
  • Publication number: 20090166150
    Abstract: In a discrimination apparatus of the invention, a banknote or another paper as an object of discrimination is irradiated with ultraviolet radiation from an array of multiple ultraviolet-emitting LEDs. The ultraviolet radiation passes through a visible radiation block filter and is focused onto a preset site of the banknote by a lens. Multiple photodiodes are used to measure the transmitted light of ultraviolet radiation and the fluorescence, which is excited by the ultraviolet radiation from the banknote. The discrimination apparatus of the invention discriminates counterfeit banknotes from genuine banknotes, based on the observed pattern of the transmitted light over a preset range of the banknote. The technique of the invention desirably enhances the accuracy of discrimination in the discrimination apparatus that discriminates counterfeit banknotes from genuine banknotes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: HITACHI,LTD.
    Inventors: Akira MORI, Mitsunari Kanou, Toshiro Uemura, Kenji Okuna, Noriaki Fujimura
  • Publication number: 20090085274
    Abstract: A bill deposit/withdrawal machine including a deposit/withdrawal port for delivering the bills deposited by users and discharging bills to users. The deposit/withdrawal port includes a bill hopper for accepting bills deposited by users and discharging bills to users, a delivering mechanism for delivering bills deposited by users, and a push plate operation mechanism for moving a push plate which forms an accepting unit and which supports bills. The bill hopper is movable by rotation operations with a bill delivering side as a fulcrum, and the delivering mechanism includes at least a gate controller which does not rotate in a delivering direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Riichi Katou, Kunihisa Matsuura, Itsunori Utsumi, Kenji Okuna
  • Patent number: 7464921
    Abstract: A bill deposit/withdrawal machine includes a deposit/withdrawal port mounted in a machine casing having a slot for users to deposit bills or for discharging bills, said deposit/withdrawal port delivering the bills deposited by users and discharging bills to users. The deposit/withdrawal port includes at least a delivering mechanism for delivering bills deposited by users, and a push plate operation mechanism for moving a push plate which forms an accepting unit and which supports bills. A bill hopper provided in the deposit/withdrawal port is provided with a movable structure and is disposed in a position suitable for discharging bills in the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Riichi Katou, Kunihisa Matsuura, Itsunori Utsumi, Kenji Okuna
  • Patent number: 7305113
    Abstract: A paper-like sheet discriminator has reference rollers for detection of a thickness of a paper-like sheet and a detection roller opposing the reference rollers. The paper-like sheet is passed between the reference rollers and the detection rollers and its thickness is detected from a displacement of the lever. Wavelength components less than a specified wavelength are extracted from a signal indicative of a thickness of the paper-like sheet passing through the respective thickness detection sensors and appearance positions on the paper-like sheet are determined at which the extracted wavelength components being less than the specified wavelength and having amplitude either not less than or less than a constant value appear. The thus determined appearance positions are collated with precedently stored appearance positions so as to discriminate genuineness/spuriousness of the paper-like sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi-Omron Terminal Solutions, Corp.
    Inventors: Takashi Yoshida, Kenji Okuna
  • Publication number: 20070221469
    Abstract: A bill deposit/withdrawal machine includes a deposit/withdrawal port mounted in a machine casing having a slot for users to deposit bills or for discharging bills, said deposit/withdrawal port delivering the bills deposited by users and discharging bills to users. The deposit/withdrawal port includes at least a delivering mechanism for delivering bills deposited by users, and a push plate operation mechanism for moving a push plate which forms an accepting unit and which supports bills. A bill hopper provided in the deposit/withdrawal port is provided with a movable structure and is disposed in a position suitable for discharging bills in the slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Inventors: Riichi Katou, Kunihisa Matsuura, Itsunori Utsumi, Kenji Okuna
  • Patent number: 7216591
    Abstract: A bill deposit/withdrawal machine for performing deposit or withdrawal of bills which includes a deposit/withdrawal port for performing deposit or withdrawal of bills, a bill discriminating unit for discriminating bills, a temporary storage box for temporarily storing bills, a reject box for storing rejected bills, and a plurality of bill accepting boxes for accepting recycle bills. The reject box is disposed on a path diverged from a bill transport path which transports bills from the temporary storage box to the bill discriminating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi-Omron Terminal Solutions Corp.
    Inventors: Riichi Katou, Kunihisa Matsuura, Itsunori Utsumi, Kenji Okuna
  • Publication number: 20060090983
    Abstract: A bill deposit/withdrawal machine for performing deposit or withdrawal of bills which includes a deposit/withdrawal port for performing deposit or withdrawal of bills, a bill discriminating unit for discriminating bills, a temporary storage box for temporarily storing bills, a reject box for storing rejected bills, and a plurality of bill accepting boxes for accepting recycle bills. The reject box is disposed on a path diverged from a bill transport path which transports bills from the temporary storage box to the bill discriminating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Inventors: Riichi Katou, Kunihisa Matsuura, Itsunori Utsumi, Kenji Okuna
  • Patent number: 7011201
    Abstract: A bill deposit/withdrawal machine for performing deposit or withdrawal of bills includes a deposit/withdrawal port for performing deposit or withdrawal of bills, a bill discriminating unit for discriminating bills, a plurality of bill accepting boxes for accepting bills, a bill transport path for transporting bills, an upper bill mechanism disposed in an upper portion of the machine for forming a unit including the deposit/withdrawal port and the bill discriminating unit, and a lower bill mechanism disposed in a lower portion of the machine for forming a unit including the plurality of bill accepting boxes. The upper bill mechanism includes a reject box for accepting non-returning bills which cannot be accepted into the plurality of boxes or bills forgotten to be taken out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Riichi Katou, Kunihisa Matsuura, Itsunori Utsumi, Kenji Okuna
  • Patent number: 6889898
    Abstract: A bill deposit/withdrawal machine for performing deposit or withdrawal of bills according to a transaction of a user, includes a deposit/withdrawal port for performing deposit or withdrawal of bills, a bill discriminating unit for discriminating bills, at least one bill accepting box for accepting bills transported from the deposit/withdrawal port and/or accepting bills to be transported to the deposit/withdrawal port and a bill transport path for connecting the deposit/withdrawal port and the bill accepting box to transport bills. The bill accepting box is transversely disposed to support bills in a standing position at least one of enables accepting bills transported through the bill transport path and delivering bills to be transported through the bill transport path. The bill accepting box is formed to be detachable from front and back face sides of the bill deposit/withdrawal machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Riichi Katou, Kunihisa Matsuura, Itsunori Utsumi, Kenji Okuna
  • Publication number: 20040208351
    Abstract: A paper-like sheet discriminator has reference rollers for detection of a thickness of a paper-like sheet and a detection roller opposing the reference rollers. The paper-like sheet is passed between the reference rollers and the detection rollers and its thickness is detected from a displacement of the lever. Wavelength components less than a specified wavelength are extracted from a signal indicative of a thickness of the paper-like sheet passing through the respective thickness detection sensors and appearance positions on the paper-like sheet are determined at which the extracted wavelength components being less than the specified wavelength and having amplitude either not less than or less than a constant value appear. The thus determined appearance positions are collated with precedently stored appearance positions so as to discriminate genuineness/spuriousness of the paper-like sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Takashi Yoshida, Kenji Okuna
  • Publication number: 20040182677
    Abstract: A bill deposit/withdrawal machine for performing deposit or withdrawal of bills includes a deposit/withdrawal port for performing deposit or withdrawal of bills, a bill discriminating unit for discriminating bills, a plurality of bill accepting boxes for accepting bills, a bill transport path for transporting bills, an upper bill mechanism disposed in an upper portion of the machine for forming a unit including the deposit/withdrawal port and the bill discriminating unit, and a lower bill mechanism disposed in a lower portion of the machine for forming a unit including the plurality of bill accepting boxes. The upper bill mechanism includes a reject box for accepting non-returning bills which cannot be accepted into the plurality of boxes or bills forgotten to be taken out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventors: Riichi Katou, Kunihisa Matsuura, Itsunori Utsumi, Kenji Okuna
  • Publication number: 20040178044
    Abstract: In a discrimination apparatus of the invention, a banknote or another paper as an object of discrimination is irradiated with ultraviolet radiation from an array of multiple ultraviolet-emitting LEDs. The ultraviolet radiation passes through a visible radiation block filter and is focused onto a preset site of the banknote by a lens. Multiple photodiodes are used to measure the transmitted light of ultraviolet radiation and the fluorescence, which is excited by the ultraviolet radiation from the banknote. The discrimination apparatus of the invention discriminates counterfeit banknotes from genuine banknotes, based on the observed pattern of the transmitted light over a preset range of the banknote. The technique of the invention desirably enhances the accuracy of discrimination in the discrimination apparatus that discriminates counterfeit banknotes from genuine banknotes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventors: Akira Mori, Mitsunari Kanou, Toshiro Uemura, Kenji Okuna, Noriaki Fujimura
  • Publication number: 20030205618
    Abstract: A bill deposit/withdrawal machine for performing deposit or withdrawal of bills according to a transaction of a user, includes a deposit/withdrawal port for performing deposit or withdrawal of bills, a bill discriminating unit for discriminating bills, at least one bill accepting box for accepting bills transported from the deposit/withdrawal port and/or accepting bills to be transported to the deposit/withdrawal port and a bill transport path for connecting the deposit/withdrawal port and the bill accepting box to transport bills. The bill accepting box is transversely disposed to support bills in a standing position at least one of enables accepting bills transported through the bill transport path and delivering bills to be transported through the bill transport path. The bill accepting box is formed to be detachable from front and back face sides of the bill deposit/withdrawal machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Inventors: Riichi Katou, Kunihisa Matsuura, Itsunori Utsumi, Kenji Okuna
  • Patent number: 6572013
    Abstract: A bill deposit/withdrawal machine for performing deposit or withdrawal of bills according to a transaction, having a deposit/withdrawal port disposed in an upper part of the bill deposit/withdrawal machine, for performing deposit or withdrawal of bills, a bill discriminating unit for discriminating bills, a solid bill box casing is disposed in a lower part of the bill deposit/withdrawal machine. At least one bill accepting box is disposed in the bill box casing, for accepting bills transported from the deposit/withdrawal port and/or accepting bills to be transported to the deposit/withdrawal port. A bill transport path is provided for connecting the deposit/withdrawal port to the bill accepting box through the bill discriminating unit and for transporting bills. The bill transport path includes an upper bill transport path and a lower bill transport path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Riichi Katou, Kunihisa Matsuura, Itsunori Utsumi, Kenji Okuna
  • Publication number: 20020170956
    Abstract: A bill deposit/withdrawal machine for performing deposit or withdrawal of bills according to a transaction, having a deposit/withdrawal port disposed in an upper part of the bill deposit/withdrawal machine, for performing deposit or withdrawal of bills, a bill discriminating unit for discriminating bills, a solid bill box casing is disposed in a lower part of the bill deposit/withdrawal machine. At least one bill accepting box is disposed in the bill box casing, for accepting bills transported from the deposit/withdrawal port and/or accepting bills to be transported to the deposit/withdrawal port. A bill transport path is provided for connecting the deposit/withdrawal port to the bill accepting box through the bill discriminating unit and for transporting bills. The bill transport path includes an upper bill transport path and a lower bill transport path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventors: Riichi Katou, Kunihisa Matsuura, Itsunori Utsumi, Kenji Okuna
  • Publication number: 20020107800
    Abstract: In an automated teller machine having a function capable of discriminating paper currencies, the automated teller machine is operable in such a manner that a paper currency range which is to be handled by a main body of the own automated teller machine is made coincident with a paper currency range (furthermore, sort of paper currencies of paper currency storage safes, or cassettes) which may be handled by a paper currency deposit/withdraw mechanism (paper currency discriminating unit). Also, a centralized managing system can manage a plurality of the above-explained automated teller machines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventors: Minoru Kadowaki, Kenji Okuna, Hiroki Matsuse
  • Patent number: 6422458
    Abstract: A bill deposit/withdrawal machine for performing deposit or withdrawal of bills according to a transaction includes a deposit/withdrawal port for performing deposit or withdrawal of bills; a bill discriminating unit for discriminating bills, bill accepting boxes for accepting bills transported from the deposit/withdrawal port or accepting bills to be transported to the deposit/withdrawal port and a bill transport path for connecting the deposit/withdrawal port to the bill accepting boxes through the bill discriminating unit and transporting bills. The deposit/withdrawal port and the bill discriminating unit are disposed in an upper part of the bill deposit/withdrawal machine, and the bill accepting boxes are disposed in a lower part of the bill deposit/withdrawal machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Riichi Katou, Kunihisa Matsuura, Itsunori Utsumi, Kenji Okuna