Compact coin denomination discriminating device

A compact coin discriminating device for receiving coins from a coin sending device operatively connected to a coin holding bowl and delivering the coins to storage hoppers, comprising:

• a plastic resin rotor with a plurality of coin pushing levers;
• a plastic resin guide member;
• a plastic slide base member;
• and
• a magnetic sensor unit, including a thickness sensor, a material sensor, a first diameter sensor, a second diameter sensor and a third diameter sensor, wherein a first portion of each sensor is disposed on a first side of the plastic slide base member and a second portion of each sensor is disposed adjacent to the first portion of each sensor on a second side of the plastic slide base member to define a sensing pathway therebetween, wherein the rotor is mounted to rotate across a surface of the slide base member with the plurality of coin pushing levers moving adjacent the plastic resin guide member and through the sensing pathway, the magnetic sensor unit is positioned to monitor a coin moving adjacent the plastic resin guide member to provide characteristic signals of the coin as one of the coin pushing levers moves the coin to slide across the base member in a coin path through the sensing pathway, wherein the thickness sensor is disposed on a first straight reference line which is defined orthogonal to the plastic resin guide member, wherein the second diameter sensor is disposed on the first straight reference line in a position outboard of the thickness sensor in relation to the guide member, and wherein the material sensor is disposed on a second straight reference line, in a position which is downstream from the first straight reference line, which is substantially orthogonal to the plastic resin guide member, the first diameter sensor and the third diameter sensor are disposed on a third straight reference line in positions downstream from the second straight reference line, the third straight reference line is substantially orthogonal to the plastic resin guide member.

A coin dispensing device comprising,

• a coin restricting device including an endless belt for translating inserted coins beneath a roller to control the entrance of coins;
• a coin holding bowl for receiving coins from the coin restricting device;
• a coin separating device for removing individual coins from the coin holding bowl;
• a non-magnetic rotor having a coin receiving portion;
• a magnetic sensor unit disposed on opposite sides of a coin movement path of the coin receiving portion to define a sensing pathway therebetween for providing signals characteristic of the coins, the magnetic sensor unit including a thickness sensor, a material sensor, a first diameter sensor, a second diameter sensor and a third diameter sensor;
• a non-magnetic reference guide for guiding a coin, positioned on an outer circumference of the coin movement path to guide the coin as it is being moved by the rotor, wherein the thickness sensor is disposed on a first straight reference line which is defined orthogonal to the non-magnetic reference guide, wherein the second diameter sensor is disposed on the first straight reference line in a position outboard of the thickness sensor in relation to the reference guide, and wherein the material sensor is disposed on a second straight reference line, in a position which is downstream from the first straight reference line, which is substantially orthogonal to the non-magnetic reference guide, the first diameter sensor and the third diameter sensor are disposed on a third straight reference line in positions downstream from the second straight reference line, the third straight reference line is substantially orthogonal to the non-magnetic reference guide;
• a timing sensor provides timing signals representative of each coin moved along the coin movement path;
• a coin conveying device includes an inclined slide plate and an endless conveyer to receive a coin from the non-magnetic rotor and slides the coin along the inclined slide plate, and
• a controller for timing the release of coins from the coin conveying device based on the timing signals and the signals characteristic of the coins.

A coin denomination discriminating device which is formed of a non-magnetic material and which acquires acquire data for discriminating while conveying coins one by one to a predetermined position, the denomination discriminating device comprising:

• a non-magnetic slide base slanting at an angle;
• a coin movement path which is positioned on the non-magnetic slide base;
• a non-magnetic rotor having a coin receiving portion and is located on the non-magnetic slide base;
• and
• a sensing means for acquiring data for discriminating between authenticity and denomination of coins guided by a guiding means for guiding the coin through a sensing pathway defined by the sensing means.