Method and apparatus for sorting currency

An apparatus for examining and determining the wear characteristics and fitness of currency which can be soiled, worn, damaged, and the like, comprising:

• means defining a currency examination station;
• transport means for receiving and transporting a bill through said examination station;
• projecting means for projecting a beam of light at substantially the entire surface of a bill at the examination station as said bill is transported through said examination station;
• detecting means disposed adjacent said projecting means for detecting the level of light transmissivity through said bill and for providing an electrical signal representative of said intensity;
• integrating means operatively connected to said detecting means for integrating said electrical signal during the transport of said bill through said examination station, said integrated signal being indicative of substantially the entire energy of the light transmitted through said bill;
• comparing means operatively connected to said integrating means for comparing the integrated signal with a reference signal representing a passable fitness energy, and forming a determination of the fitness of a bill which is examined;
• signalling means operatively connected to said comparing means for providing an electrical signal which is representative of the fitness of a bill being examined;
• and
• conveying means operatively connected to said signalling means for conveying an examined bill from the examination station in response to the fitness determination signal through means defining a first course to a first bill collecting means, and alternatively through means defining a second course to a second bill collecting means.