Coin processing system for discriminating and counting coins from multiple countries

A coin processing system for separating mixed coins including coins from a first coin set and coins from a second coin set, said first and second coin sets both including coins of different diameters, comprising:

• a rotatable disc having a resilient upper surface;
• a stationary sorting head having a lower surface generally parallel to and spaced slightly from said resilient upper surface of said rotatable disc, said lower surface of said sorting head forming first and second exit channels for discharging, respectively, said first and second coin sets;
• said lower surface forming an outwardly spiraling coin queuing region extending from a coin input region and into said first exit channel;
• a discrimination sensor within said sorting head for sensing said mixed coins as said mixed coins move through said coin queuing region;
• a mechanical divertor within said first exit channel capable of movement between an open position allowing coins to continue through said first exit channel and a closed position forcing said coins toward said second exit channel;
• a controller for monitoring said discrimination sensor and selectively actuating said mechanical divertor to move coins between said first and second exit channels;
• a first coin tabulating mechanism for determining the value of said first coin set exiting from said first exit channel;
• and
• a second coin tabulating mechanism for determining the value of said second coin set exiting from said second exit channel.

A system for processing mixed coins including coins from a first coin set and coins from a second coin set said first and second coin sets both including coins of various diameters, comprising:

• a coin handling device including a coin input region in which said mixed coins are placed, a first exit region for discharging said first coin set, and a second exit region for discharging said second coin set, said coin handling device further including means for discriminating between coins of said first coin set and coins of said second coin set, and means for transporting said first coin set to said first exit region and said second coin set to said second exit region;
• a first coin sorter receiving said coins from said first exit region, said first coin sorter being independently operable apart from said coin processing system and including a first sorting structure which mechanically sorts at least two denominations of said first coin set, said first sorting structure being interchangeable with other sorting structures associated with different coin sets;
• and
• a second coin sorter receiving said coins from said second exit region, said second coin sorter being independently operable apart from said coin processing system and including a second sorting structure which mechanically sorts at least two denominations of said second coin set, said second sorting structure being interchangeable with other sorting structures associated with different coin sets.

A method of sorting and counting mixed coins including coins from a first coin set and coins from a second coin set, comprising the steps of:

• placing said mixed coins in a discrimination machine having a discrimination sensor;
• discriminating between coins of said first coin set and coins of said second coin set with said discrimination sensor;
• sorting coins of said first coin set from coins of said second coin set based on said discrimination sensor while said mixed coins are within said discrimination machine;
• automatically transporting said first coin set from said discrimination machine to a first coin sorter adjacent to said discrimination machine;
• automatically transporting said second coin set from said discrimination machine to a second coin sorter adjacent to said discrimination machine, said second coin sorter being independent of said first coin sorter;
• sorting said first coin set into denominations of said first coin set with said first coin sorter;
• sorting said second coin set into denominations of said second coin set with said second coin sorter;
• counting each of said denominations of said first coin set;
• and
• counting each of said denominations of said second coin set.

A system for processing mixed coins including coins from a first coin set and coins from a second coin set, comprising:

• a coin set discrimination device including a coin input region in which said mixed coins are placed, a first exit region for discharging said first coin set, and a second exit region for discharging said second coin set, said coin set discrimination device further including means for discriminating between coins of said first coin set and coins of said second coin set and means for transporting coins of said first coin set to said first exit region and coins of said second coin set to said second exit region;
• a first coin sorter receiving said coins from said first exit region, said first coin sorter sorting and counting coins of said first coin set;
• and
• a second coin sorter receiving said coins from said second exit region, said second coin sorter sorting and counting coins of said second coin set;
• and
• wherein at least one of said first and second coin sorters includes a stationary sorting head and a rotatable disc.

A system for processing mixed coins including coins from a first coin set and coins from a second coin set, comprising:

• a coin set discrimination device including a coin input region in which said mixed coins are placed, a first exit region for discharging said first coin set, and a second exit region for discharging said second coin set, said coin set discrimination device further including means for discriminating between coins of said first coin set and coins of said second coin set and means for transporting coins of said first coin set to said first exit region and coins of said second coin set to said second exit region;
• a first coin sorter receiving said coins from said first exit region, said first coin sorter sorting and counting coins of said first coin set;
• a second coin sorter receiving said coins from said second exit region, said second coin sorter sorting and counting coins of said second coin set;
• and
• wherein at least one of said first and second coin sorters includes a first and second rotating discs having overlapping edges, said coins being passed from said first rotating disc to said second rotating disc which sorts said coins.

A system for processing mixed coins including coins from a first coin set and coins from a second coin set, comprising:

• a coin set discrimination device including a coin input region in which said mixed coins are placed, a first exit region for discharging said first coin set, and a second exit region for discharging said second coin set, said coin set discrimination device further including means for discriminating between coins of said first coin set and coins of said second coin set and means for transporting coins of said first coin set to said first exit region and coins of said second coin set to said second exit region;
• a first coin sorter receiving said coins from said first exit region, said first coin sorter sorting and counting coins of said first coin set;
• and
• a second coin sorter receiving said coins from said second exit region, said second coin sorter sorting and counting coins of said second coin set.

A system for processing mixed coins including coins from a first coin set and coins from a second coin set, comprising:

• a coin set discrimination device including a coin input region in which said mixed coins are placed and a coin discriminator for discriminating between coins from said first coin set and coins from said second coin set;
• a first coin sorter receiving and counting said coins from said first coin set;
• and
• a second coin sorter receiving and counting said coins from said second coin set.

A method of processing mixed coins including coins from a first coin set and coins from a second coin set, comprising the steps of:

• discriminating between coins of said first coin set and coins of said second coin set with said discrimination sensor;
• sorting coins of said first coin set from coins of said second coin set based on said discrimination sensor;
• and
• placing a monetary value on coins of said first coin set and coins of said second coin set.