Abstract: The device for inspecting separately conveyed tablets or capsules has a guide device for guiding the separately conveyed tablets or capsules, which defines a predetermined tablet pathway, and a heating element designed as a hotplate, which is arranged in an area of the guide device. The device further has an IR sensor for detecting radiation in an infrared range arranged opposite the heating element such that the tablet pathway passes between the heating element and the IR sensor, and an evaluation unit connected to the IR sensor and adapted to compare actual measurement values of the IR sensor with at least one predetermined nominal measurement value.

Abstract: A paper-type detection device comprises a sensor unit, a storage unit and a control unit. The sensor unit is used for detecting a transmission state of a paper according to a fixed clock period, and carrying out binaryzation on detected signals to indicate the presence-absence state of the paper. The storage unit is used for acquiring the signals detected by the sensor unit, acquiring paper information in the signals, and storing the paper information in sequence. The control unit comprises a first state counter and a second state counter. The control unit controls the two state counters for carrying out zero clearing and starting operations for counting in conjunction with the sensor unit.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a bill-operated capsuled article vending machine. The capsuled article vending machine 10 is provided with a capsule container 12 at an upper portion thereof and a capsule dispensing unit 14 at a lower portion thereof. The capsule dispensing unit 14 is provided with a reverse rotation preventing mechanism 44 of the handle 32, a bill identifying unit 50, a bill storing box 52 and a rotation control unit 54 for the handle 32, in addition to the handle 32. The rotation control unit 54 is provided with a locking mechanism 60 for locking or unlocking the handle 32, a sensor 62 for detecting a rotational position or a rotational angle of the handle 32 and a control unit 64. When the bill identifying unit 50 recognizes reception of a prescribed bill, the rotation control unit 54 enables one rotation of the handle 32, by which an article is dispensed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an addressing type coin-dropping detector circuit, in which as any coin dropping and passing through the photo detector, impulses are produced from the detecting points of the external photo detector and then sent to the addressing type coin-dropping detector circuit. Followed by the enumerations performed by the addressing type coin-dropping detector circuit, an impulse-length value is derived and transmitted to the external circuit through addressing mechanism, which increases overall integrated level of the circuit with a more efficient design in terms of memory and circuit utilization.

Abstract: Printed products, such as newspapers are fed past a counting station arranged in imbricated fashion, preferably folded edges passing downstream first. A high intensity light source is arranged so that its light beams are oriented at an angle which, while illuminating upper surfaces of the newspapers, causes the forward folded edges to cast a shadow upon the upper surface of a downstream newspaper that the forward edge of the newspaper creating the shadow rests upon. An image sensing device creates an image of a given region which includes the leading edge of the newspaper creating the shadow. This image is compared with stored criteria to determine if the “shadow” is due to a leading edge of a newspaper and to thereby discriminate a newspaper leading edge from other spurious conditions which, although they may create a “shadow”, fail to meet the criteria of a leading edge of a newspaper.

Abstract: A counting device with control system includes a housing with a rotating wheel therein. The wheel includes a plurality of seats for each item to be counted. Upon deposit of the items into the housing, each item is seated for discharge through a housing aperture, past a sensor operating a counter and onto a conveyor line. A baffle adjacent the housing aperture directs the counted items to one or the other longitudinal side of the conveyor line. A control system controls the baffle position according to a preselected item count. An air pressure system assures a proper seating of each items and discharge through the housing aperture.

Abstract: A cash counting apparatus for cashbox comprises a case arranged within the cashbox, a sliding block movably arranged at an upper side of the case, a swing arm pivotally arranged in the case, and a circuit board with a plurality of contacts. The swing arm has one end pivotally driven by the sliding block and a probe on another end. The sliding block is moved laterally by an inserted coin, and the probe is swung due to the lever action of the swing arm. The probe is selectively in contact with one of the contacts according to the sizes of the inserted coin.

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 angled downward from the horizontal. When the hinged tray is lifted, the coins travel over a peak structure, 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. The coins fall into a storage area and the user is issued a cash voucher and a series of manufacturer coupons.

Abstract: A method for counting substantially uniformly sized objects includes the steps of obtaining an image of substantially uniformly sized objects; analyzing the image to determine total object area in the image and average object size of the objects; and determining a count of the objects from the total object area and the average object size.

Abstract: A disc sorting apparatus and method is provided for sorting discs of different identities. When discs are received they are conveyed to a sorting arrangement for sorting the discs into respective stacks determined by their identities. The speed of conveyance and thus sorting of the discs is determined by the detected number of discs being identified.

Abstract: An object feeding, counting, and dispensing device is provided which includes a feeding funnel having a pathway having an entrance into which discrete objects are provided and an exit, an object sensing system at the exit of the pathway, a dispensing funnel having an upper opening into which the objects are gravity fed after passing through the object sensing system and a relatively smaller lower opening, a vibration system which substantially silently vibrates the dispensing funnel in a horizontal plane, and preferably not a vertical plane, and a display indicating the number of object counted. According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the vibration system includes a weight, a motor coupled to the dispensing funnel which eccentrically rotates the weight through XY plane such that rotation of the weight creates forces in X and Y directions, and a system which cancels the force in one of the X and Y directions.

Abstract: A counter is used to count tokens in a pusher-type game machine. The counter has a sensor unit (25) arranged in a path (23) through which tokens (19) fall. The sensor unit is a part of a capacitance sensor (51) for detecting a capacitance change in the path. A reference capacitance change corresponding to a single token failing through the path is stored in an MPU (47) in advance. A capacitance change detected by the capacitance sensor is compared with the reference capacitance change, to determine the number of tokens failing through the path.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical coin counting system for use in gaming machines such as video poker machines and slot machines. One disclosed system includes an optical detector including a light source and a light detector, a deflection arm which deflects when a coin passes over it, a shaft attached to the deflection arm such that the shaft rotates when the deflection arm deflects, an optic flag attached to the shaft at a location remote from the deflection arm such that when the coin causes the deflection arm to deflect, the optic flag moves with respect to the light detector to cause a change in light intensity detected by the detector, and an opaque barrier disposed substantially about the optic flag such that substantially all light proximate the deflection arm is blocked from reaching the optical detector. The shaft may pass through the opaque barrier.

Abstract: A machine for counting discrete articles, such as tablets, pills, or capsules, comprising a feeder including a hopper for receiving and dispersing a plurality of tablets to be counted into separate streams, a plurality of detectors associated with each stream for detecting each tablet in that stream, a counter coupled to said plurality of counters for counting the total number of tablets in all of the streams and a switching device coupled to each of said plurality of detectors for preventing detector saturation and delay, thereby improving counter accuracy and speed.

Abstract: An object counter includes a feeding funnel having a frustroconical section, the narrow end of which is coupled to a substantially vertical feeding channel having a substantially rectangular cross section. A pair of linear optical sensor arrays are arranged along adjacent orthogonal sides of the feeding channel and a corresponding pair of collimated light sources are arranged along the opposite adjacent sides of the feeding channel such that each sensor in each array receives light the corresponding light source. Objects which are placed in the feeding funnel fall into the feeding channel and cast shadows on sensors in the arrays as they pass through the feeding channel. Outputs from each of the two linear optical arrays are processed separately, preferably according to various conservative criteria, and two object counts are thereby obtained. The higher of the two conservative counts is accepted as the accurate count and is displayed on a numeric display.

Abstract: A system for counting the number of objects of known thickness in a stack and identifying the objects by their color in which an ultrasonic sensor is mounted at a known distance from a reference point that defines the beginning of the stack. The ultrasonic sensor is operated to measure the round trip transit time of ultrasonic energy reflected back from the closest object in the stack and the number of objects in the stack is calculated on the basis of the known distance and the round trip transit time. A color sensor senses the color of at least one object in the stack to identify the object. In a casino application where the objects are chips of known monetary value, the value of the chips in the stack can be calculated.

Abstract: A chip (12) counter (10) employs an ultrasonic distance measuring system (40) to determine the number of chips in a stack (54, 56) in a chip tray (16) channel (14). A computer (32) initially stores an average chip thickness (T) and receives distance data from the ultrasonic distance measuring system indicative of a first distance (D.sub.1) to the bottom of an empty channel. To count chips, the computer repeatedly receives data from the ultrasonic distance measuring system indicative of a second distance (D.sub.2) to the top of the stack of chips in the channel. The computer subtracts the second distance from the first distance to determine a height of the stack of chips and then divides the height by the average chip thickness to provide a continuous count of the number of chips in the channel. In a multichannel chip tray, each channel has a distance measuring transducer, and a multiplexer (28) scans all the transducers to provide the computer with second distance data for all channels in the chip tray.

Abstract: There is provided a method for counting and dispensing pills, tablets, and capsules which depends on a simple vibrating, sloped, concave-shaped (e.g., V-shaped) trough, having a number of descending steps. The vibration of the trough is controlled and adjusted by a microprocessor. The vibration of the trough is patterned to provide a greater vibratory amplitude at its dispensing end than at its intake end. The difference at each end of the trough in vibratory amplitude is achieved by elastomeric supports that are differently spring dampened. The microprocessor electronically adjusts the input vibration to the trough, such that the flow of materials is adjusted for different types of materials (i.e., tablets of different shapes and/or sizes). This causes the tablets to align accurately within the trough, and sequentially pass a pill detector mechanism in single file. This ensures that the device can handle an extremely varied range of tablet or capsule sizes and shapes.

Abstract: There is provided a method for counting and dispensing pills, tablets, and capsules which depends on a simple vibrating, sloped, concave-shaped (e.g., V-shaped) trough, having a number of descending steps. The vibration of the trough is controlled and adjusted by a microprocessor. The vibration of the trough is patterned to provide a greater vibratory amplitude at its dispensing end than at its intake end. The difference at each end of the trough in vibratory amplitude is achieved by elastomeric supports that are differently spring dampened. The microprocessor electronically adjusts the input vibration to the trough, such that the flow of materials is adjusted for different types of materials (i.e., tablets of different shapes and/or sizes). This causes the tablets to align accurately within the trough, and sequentially pass a pill detector mechanism in single file. This ensures that the device can handle an extremely varied range of tablet or capsule sizes and shapes.

Abstract: A medal counting apparatus installed in a game parlor for counting medals which a game player has won, is disclosed. The medal counting apparatus comprises a counter for counting the medals, a medal supplying mechanism for receiving the medals to be dumped and for supplying them sequentially to the counter, a dump restraining unit for restraining the medals from being dumped into the medal supplying mechanism and a control unit for controlling operations of the medal supplying mechanism and the dump restraining unit. The medal supply control means puts the medal supplying mechanism into a stopped state when the dump restraining unit restrains the medals from being dumped and into an operation state when the dump restraining unit permits dumping of the medals. The control unit also instructs the dump restraining unit to close the receiving hopper when a medal dump restraining signal is input from the outside or the counter has not been used for a certain period of time.

Abstract: A slot machine incorporates a coin dispenser, which has a discharge section that discharges a coin toward a discharge slot. A sensor is arranged at the discharge slot, and generates a detection signal upon detecting a coin. A counter counts the detection signal, to generate a count signal. A pay-out controller drives the discharge section in accordance with a pay-out signal, and prevents the discharge section from operating to complete the pay-out, when the count value equals a predetermined number of coins to be paid out. If the detecting signal is received before receiving the pay-out signal, the pay-out controller prevents the discharge section from operating, to protect the slot machine from a player's fraud. If the detection signal is received before receiving the pay-out signal or after completing the pay-out, the pay-out controller signals an error. A blocking plate is arranged to close the discharge slot. When pushed by the passing coin, the plate is opened to allow the coin to pass.

Abstract: A coin counting apparatus for a vending machine includes a down counter which is loaded with an initial count representing the number of coins to be deposited in order to initiate a vend cycle which initial count is decremented in response to each sequential coin detection. A display responsive to the current count of the counter indicates the number of coins yet to be deposited and a gate detecting the target count of zero is coupled to actuate relay contacts to signal the vending machine to initiate a vend cycle. An initialization circuit causes the loading of the initial count in response to either the detection of power up or the expiration of a predetermined time period, in the range of 1 to 10 minutes, after the last coin detection.

Abstract: A vending machine, coin-operated self-service machine, utility meter etc., is provided with a counting mechanism which is inexpensive and simple in construction and easy to operate. The device comprises a binary counting device capable of storing cumulative counts of transaction information. The binary counts are converted in a parallel to serial converter and ultimately pulsed in a series of long and short pulses to an LED. The vending machine, self-service machine, etc., is provided with a bar code serial number, and a bar code reader reads and stores both the serial number and the transaction information delivered through the LED. Software is provided to permit the storage of transaction count information based upon the serial number of a particular machine.

Abstract: A device for counting events, such as deposit of coins, providing a control signal after an easily preset number of events has been counted. A binary counter has a parallel output register, with a simple switch and diode connected between each output terminal of the register and a common signal conductor. Individual switches are set to the binary number corresponding to the desired count, so that the voltage on the common conductor changes when the count equals or exceeds the binary preset number. When the circuit receives on electrical signal to be counted, a delay circuit prevents counting for some minimum interval of time, to prevent false counts due to switch bounce or other disturbances which may be related to the event. Energy is stored within the device to maintain the stored count for a short period of time in the event of power interruption between receipt of a first signal to be counted and provision of a control signal when the preset number of counts has been reached.

Abstract: A coin pay-out apparatus in which a rotary disc is rotated by a motor to effect a coin pay-out. The motor is controlled by a plurality of binary input signals. Only when a combination of the plurality of input signals is found to be a predetermined combination including the binary input signals, is the motor driven to rotate the rotary disc in the normal direction so that coins are paid out. In this way, erroneous payment of coins can be prevented. In the event of a coin jam, the motor is driven in the reverse direction to clear the jam. The number of times the motor is thus reversely driven is counted, and when the count reaches a predetermined number, a warning of malfunction is given.

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.

Abstract: An electronic totalizer countrol for a coin sorter allows the user to assign and change fractional and whole-number coin values for denominations sorted at ten coin sorting stations in the sorter. The totalizer has a liquid crystal display (LCD) that integrates several cursors with the usual digits for displaying totals. A keyboard includes a BAG COUNT key operable to select a particular coin sorting station as indicated by one of the cursors. The keyboard also has DISPLAY keys operable to display monetary totals that has been accumulated by counting signals generated at the coin stations and adding a user-entered coin value for each signal to the total for the respective denomination. Coin data is stored in display data structures in a coin station data table for advantageous operation of the LCD.

Abstract: A slot machine of the type having a plurality of rotatable reels, each bearing an annular row of various symbols on the outer surface thereof, or a corresponding CRT display, which selects and displays combinations of symbols during each game, and which pays out coins not only when predetermined prize-winning combinations of symbols occur on prize-winning rows but also when a predetermined number of consecutive lost games take place.

Abstract: A cash accounting system comprises a cash register for recording various transactions of money and having a central processing unit, a counting machine electrically connected with the cash register and operable to count money including bills used during each of the transactions, and a count data read-in device for writing count information providing by the counting machine as a result of the counting operation, in the central processing unit.

Abstract: An electrical circuit arrangement for use in a coin counting device is provided. The arrangement is provided with an abnormality detection circuit for generating an alarm signal when any of the optical sensing member of the coin counting device is hindered from operating normally due to adhesion of dust or other causes. The abnormality detection circuit includes a NAND gate, a NOR gate, an OR gate, a counter and an SR-type flip-flop. The first and second detection signal generated from the optical sensing members are supplied to the NAND gate and the NOR gate. The OR gate is supplied with the output from the NOR gate and a reset signal from a reset operator section. The counter is supplied with the output from the NAND gate and the output from the OR gate. In normal operation, the counter counts the level "1" and "0" of the binary logical level alternately, thereby to leave a counting section to continue the counting operation.

Abstract: A vending machine is generally equipped with a money amount indicator which indicates an amount of deposited coins or a balance thereof. This total sales indication device utilizes the money amount indicator to indicate a total sales of the vending machine on this indicator when the vending machine is not making a vending operation. Prices of articles sold are cumulatively added by a sales counter to obtain a total sales and counting contents of this sales counter are indicated on the money amount indicator by manipulating an indication control switch.