Coin handling system with coin sensor discriminator

A coin sorter, comprising:

• a rotatable disc;
• a drive motor for rotating said disc;
• a stationary sorting head having a lower surface generally parallel to the upper surface of said rotatable disc and spaced slightly therefrom, said lower surface of said sorting head forming a plurality of exit channels for guiding coins of different denominations to different discharge stations around the periphery of said disc;
• and
• a plurality of coin sensor/discriminators mounted in said stationary sorting head over said rotatable disc for discriminating between valid and invalid coins guided by said stationary sorting head, at least one coin sensor/discriminator being mounted in each of said plurality of exit channels.

A coin sorter for sorting coins of at least one coin denomination from an invalid item not of said at least one coin denomination, the coin sorter comprising:

• a motor having a motor output shaft rotatable at a first speed;
• a rotatable disc, coupled to the motor output shaft, having a resilient surface for receiving said coins and, via the motor output shaft of the motor, imparting rotational movement to said coins;
• a stationary sorting head having a contoured surface spaced slightly away from and generally parallel to said resilient surface of said rotatable disc, said stationary sorting head configured and arranged for sorting and discharging said coins of said at least one coin denomination through respective coin denomination exit paths around the periphery of said stationary sorting head and into associated stationary coin-collecting containers;
• an electrical sensor, located at a fixed sensing station over the rotatable disc, sensing an invalid item while the invalid item is rotating on the rotatable disc;
• a diverter, located in a coin route between the electrical sensor and the stationary coin-collecting containers;
• and
• a control circuit, responsive to the electrical sensor sensing an invalid item in the coin route, engaging the diverter to prevent the invalid item from being discharged into the associated stationary coin-collecting container;
• further including an encoder for tracking the position of the invalid item in response to the electrical sensor while the invalid item traverses said coin route between the electrical sensor and the associated stationary coin-collecting container.

A coin sorter for sorting coins of at least one coin denomination from an invalid item not of said at least one coin denomination, the coin sorter comprising:

• a motor having a motor output shaft rotatable at a first speed;
• a rotatable disc, coupled to the motor output shaft, having a resilient surface for receiving said coins and, via the motor output shaft of the motor, imparting rotational movement to said coins;
• a stationary sorting head having a contoured surface spaced slightly away from and generally parallel to said resilient surface of said rotatable disc, said stationary sorting head configured and arranged for sorting and discharging said coins of said at least one coin denomination through respective coin denomination exit paths around the periphery of said stationary sorting head and into associated stationary coin-collecting containers:
• an electrical sensor, located at a fixed sensing station over the rotatable disc, sensing an invalid item while the invalid item is rotating on the rotatable disc;
• a diverter, located in a coin route between the electrical sensor and the stationary coin-collecting containers;
• and
• a control circuit, responsive to the electrical sensor sensing an invalid item in the coin route, engaging the diverter to prevent the invalid item from being discharged into the associated stationary coin-collecting containers;
• wherein the control circuit is coupled to the rotatable disc and controls the speed of the rotatable disc.

A coin sorter for sorting coins of at least one coin denomination from an invalid item not of said at least one coin denomination, the coin sorter comprising:

• a motor having a motor output shaft rotatable at a first speed;
• a rotatable disc, coupled to the motor output shaft, having a resilient surface for receiving said coins and, via the motor output shaft of the motor, imparting rotational movement to said coins;
• a stationary sorting head having a contoured surface spaced slightly away from and generally parallel to said resilient surface of said rotatable disc, said stationary sorting head configured and arranged for sorting and discharging said coins of said at least one coin denomination through respective coin denomination exit paths around the periphery of said stationary sorting head and into associated stationary coin-collecting containers;
• an electrical sensor, located at a fixed sensing station over the rotatable disc, sensing an invalid item while the invalid item is rotating on the rotatable disc;
• a diverter, located in a coin route between the electrical sensor and the stationary coin-collecting containers;
• and
• a control circuit, responsive to the electrical sensor sensing an invalid item in the coin route, engaging the diverter to prevent the invalid item from being discharged into the associated stationary coin-collecting containers;
• wherein the diverter is constructed and arranged to divert coins of said at least one denomination while they are on the rotatable disc.

A coin sorter for sorting coins of at least one coin denomination from an invalid item not of said at least one coin denomination, the coin sorter comprising:

• a motor having a motor output shaft rotatable at a first speed;
• a rotatable disc, coupled to the motor output shaft, having a resilient surface for receiving said coins and, via the motor output shaft of the motor, imparting rotational movement to said coins;
• a stationary sorting head having a contoured surface spaced slightly away from and generally parallel to said resilient surface of said rotatable disc, said stationary sorting head configured and arranged for sorting and discharging said coins of said at least one coin denomination through respective coin denomination exit paths around the periphery of said stationary sorting head and into associated stationary coin-collecting containers;
• an electrical sensor, located at a fixed sensing station over the rotatable disc, sensing an invalid item while the invalid item is rotating on the rotatable disc;
• a diverter, located in a coin route between the electrical sensor and the stationary coin-collecting containers:
• a control circuit, responsive to the electrical sensor sensing an invalid item in the coin route, engaging the diverter to prevent the invalid item from being discharged into the associated stationary coin-collecting containers;
• wherein the diverter is constructed and arranged to divert invalid item, and wherein the diverter diverts invalid items while they are on the rotatable disc.

A coin sorter for sorting coins of at least one coin denomination an invalid item not of said at least one coin denomination, the coin sorter comprising:

• a motor having a motor output shaft rotatable at a first speed;
• a rotatable disc, coupled to the motor output shaft, having a resilient surface for receiving said coins and, via the motor output shaft of the motor, imparting rotational movement to said coins;
• a stationary sorting head having a contoured surface spaced slightly away from and generally parallel to said resilient surface of said rotatable disc, said stationary sorting head configured and arranged for sorting and discharging said coins of said at least one coin denomination through respective coin denomination exit paths around the periphery of said stationary sorting head and into associated stationary coin-collecting containers;
• an electrical sensor, located at a fixed sensing station over the rotatable disc, sensing an invalid item while the invalid item is rotating on the rotatable disc;
• a diverter, located in a coin route between the electrical sensor and the stationary coin-collecting containers;
• and
• a control circuit, responsive to the electrical sensor sensing an invalid item in the coin route, engaging the diverter to prevent the invalid item from being discharged into the associated stationary coin-collecting containers;
• wherein the electrical sensor is constructed and arranged for sensing invalid items within one of the coin denomination exit paths.

A coin sorter for sorting coins of at least one coin denomination from an invalid item not of said at least one coin denomination, the coin sorter comprising:

• a motor having a motor output shaft rotatable at a first speed;
• a rotatable disc, coupled to the motor output shaft, having a resilient surface for receiving said coins and, via the motor output shaft of the motor, imparting rotational movement to said coins;
• a stationary sorting head having a contoured surface spaced slightly away from and generally parallel to said resilient surface of said rotatable disc, said stationary sorting head configured and arranged for sorting and discharging said coins of said at least one coin denomination through respective coin denomination exit paths around the periphery of said stationary sorting head and into associated stationary coin-collecting containers;
• an electrical sensor, located at a fixed sensing station over the rotatable disc, sensing an invalid item while the invalid item is rotating on the rotatable disc;
• a diverter, located in a coin route between the electrical sensor and the stationary coin-collecting containers;
• and
• a control circuit, responsive to the electrical sensor sensing an invalid item in the coin route, engaging the diverter to prevent the invalid item from being discharged into the associated stationary coin-collecting containers;
• wherein the electrical sensor is constructed and arranged for sensing invalid items upstream of the coin denomination exit paths and wherein the diverter diverts invalid items after they leave the periphery of the rotatable disc, and in response to sensing invalid items upstream of the coin denomination exit paths the control circuit reduces the speed of the rotatable disc.

A coin sorter for sorting coins of at least one coin denomination from an invalid item not of said at least one coin denomination, the coin sorter comprising:

• a motor having a motor output shaft rotatable at a first speed;
• a rotatable disc, coupled to the motor output shaft, having a resilient surface for receiving said coins and, via the motor output shaft of the motor, imparting rotational, movement to said coins;
• a stationary sorting head having a contoured surface spaced slightly away from and generally parallel to said resilient surface of said rotatable disc, said stationary, sorting head configured and arranged for sorting and discharging said coins of said at least one coin denomination through respective coin denomination exit paths around the periphery of said stationary sorting head and into associated stationary coin-collecting containers;
• an electrical sensor, located at a fixed sensing station over the rotatable disc, sensing an invalid item while the invalid item is rotating on the rotatable disc;
• a diverter, in a coin route between the electrical sensor and the stationary coin-collecting containers;
• and
• a control circuit, responsive to the electrical sensor sensing an invalid item in the coin route, engaging the diverter to prevent the invalid item from being discharged into the associated stationary coin-collecting containers;
• wherein the electrical sensor is constructed and arranged for sensing invalid items within one of the coin denomination exit paths and, in response thereto, the diverter diverts the sensed invalid items after they leave the periphery of the rotatable disc.

A coin sorter, comprising:

• a rotatable disc;
• a drive motor for rotating said disc;
• a stationary sorting head having a lower surface generally parallel to the upper surface of said rotatable disc and spaced slightly therefrom, said lower surface of said sorting head forming a plurality of exit channels for guiding coins of different denominations to different discharge stations around the periphery of said disc;
• a coin sensor/discriminator mounted in said stationary sorting head over said rotatable disc for discriminating between valid and invalid coins guided by said stationary sorting head;
• and
• a control unit, responsive to detection of an invalid coin by said coin sensor/discriminator, for stopping rotation of said disc and then controllably discharging said invalid coin from one of said plurality of exit channels.

A coin sorter for sorting coins of at least one coin denomination from an invalid item not of said at least one coin denomination, the coin sorter comprising:

• a motor having a motor output shaft rotatable at a first speed;
• a rotatable disc, coupled to the motor output shaft, having a resilient upper surface for receiving said coins thereon and, via the motor output shaft of the motor, imparting rotational movement to said coins;
• a stationary sorting head having a lower contoured surface spaced slightly above and generally parallel to said resilient upper surface of said rotatable disc, said stationary sorting head configured and arranged for sorting and discharging said coins of said at least one coin denomination through respective coin denomination exit paths around the periphery of said stationary sorting head and into associated stationary coin-collecting containers;
• an electrical sensor, located at a fixed sensing station over the rotatable disc, sensing an invalid item while the invalid item is rotating on the rotatable disc;
• a diverter, located in a coin route between the electrical sensor and the stationary coin-collecting containers;
• and
• a control circuit, responsive to the electrical sensor sensing an invalid item in the coin route, engaging the diverter to prevent the invalid item from being discharged into the associated stationary coin-collecting containers.

A coin sorting device for sorting coins of at least one coin denomination from an invalid item not of said at least one coin denomination, comprising:

• a coin-driving member having a resilient surface;
• a stationary coin-guiding member having a coin-guiding surface opposing the resilient surface of the coin-driving member, the coin-guiding surface being positioned generally parallel to the resilient surface and spaced slightly therefrom, the resilient surface of the coin-driving member constructed and arranged to move coins along the coin-guiding surface of the coin-guiding member, the coin-guiding surface configured and arranged for sorting and discharging the coins of said at least one denomination through respective coin denomination exit stations formed by the coin-guiding surface;
• and
• a coin sensor/discriminator, located at a fixed sensing station adjacent the coin-driving member, for sensing invalid items after the invalid items enter one of the coin denomination exit paths.

A coin sorter, comprising:

• a rotatable disc;
• a drive motor for rotating said disc;
• a stationary sorting head mounted over said rotatable disc, said sorting head having a lower surface generally parallel to an upper surface of said rotatable disc and spaced slightly therefrom, said lower surface of said sorting head forming a plurality of exit channels for guiding coins of different denominations to different discharge stations around the periphery of said disc;
• and
• a coin sensor/discriminator, located at a fixed sensing station over said rotatable disc, for discriminating between valid and invalid coins guided by said stationary sorting head.