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Gaming token tray employing ultrasonic token counting

  • US 5,742,656 A
  • Filed: 03/21/1996
  • Issued: 04/21/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for counting a number of gaming tokens in stacks of gaming tokens, the gaming tokens having a thickness, the method comprising:

  • providing multiple open gaming token troughs each having a longitudinal axis and first and second ends;

    mounting an ultrasonic distance measuring transducer adjacent to the first end of each trough and orienting the ultrasonic distance measuring transducers to measure distances substantially along the longitudinal axis of each trough, each transducer having a beam substantially confined within its associated trough;

    connecting each ultrasonic distance measuring transducer to a distance measurement system that is connected to a computer;

    measuring a first distance D1 between at least one ultrasonic distance measuring transducer and the second end of the associated trough;

    storing D1 and the thickness in the computer;

    loading the stacks of gaming tokens in the troughs and against the second ends of the troughs;

    measuring second distances D2 between the ultrasonic distance measuring transducer and a nearest gaming token in each of the stacks of gaming tokens; and

    calculating in the computer the number of gaming tokens in each of the stacks of gaming tokens by employing data generated in the measuring and storing steps.

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