A coin sorter has the capability to sort an additional size of coin by means of an exit chute which extends through a side of a coin hopper. A rotating pickup plate having notches for coins along its periphery rotates in an inclined plane within the hopper. Coins of certain denominations will fall through a coin opening at the apex of the rotating pickup plate and will fall into coin slots of diminishing width provided in a rotating core. The coins are held at a level peculiar to their size and are directed to discharge chutes and collection points for each denomination. Coins of the denomination which is larger than that which can pass through the coin opening are lifted from a notch by a plow positioned in front of the entrance to the exit chute and the coins travel through the chute outwardly of the hopper to a collection point. A switch actuator arm is positioned in the path of travel of the larger size coins prior to their entry into the exit chute. The apparatus may be provided as a kit of parts to convert existing sorters to handle an additional denomination of coin.
A coin handling apparatus for transporting coins from a hooper location through a transfer station to an ejection site. The apparatus has a first rotatable disc assembly with a coin inlet filter for filtering out oversized or bent coins. An undersized coin slot located along a transport path permits smaller coins than the desired denomination to pass therethrough out of the coin transport path. The coin transfer station includes a knife edge for directing the coins into the inlet of a coin tower in such a manner that the coins are forced upwardly toward an outlet. Along the transport path the coin are constrained both in a radial direction and a lateral direction to prevent jamming. A coin interlock mechanism located in the escalator prevents theft of the coins via the outlet. The interlock mechanism includes a sliding and pivoting interlock member which can only be successfully operated from below by an advancing coin.
A coin sorting apparatus counts and sorts coins by denomination in an efficient manner. The steps involve receiving the coins on a disc having a resilient surface and imparting rotational movement to the coins by rotating the disc with a stationary guide plate having a contoured surface spaced slightly over the resilient surface of the disc. The guide plate includes a recess for guiding the coins on the disc into a single file of coins. A referencing portion of the contoured surface is used to guide one edge of the coins in the single file along a prescribed path. The coins of a selected denomination are then counted as they are moved along the prescribed path. Coins of different denominations are discharged at different locations around the periphery of the stationary guide plate, and, in response to the counting, the discharge of the coins is interrupted.
A coin sorter and counter includes a plurality of spaced apart sorting plates rotatably disposed within an annular drum inclined at a fixed angle with respect to the horizontal, each sorting plate including a plurality of openings therethrough configured to ratain coins of a particular size while passing all coins of a smaller size. An automatic coin feed mechanism for supplying coins to the sorting plates is energized and deenergized responsive to the level of coins on any of the plurality of plates, and an adaptive coin ejection mechanism removes sorted coins from the respective sorting plates one-by-one whereupon they are deposited into appropriate recepticles. The sorting plates and annular drum are cooperatively configured to accurately sort bent or otherwise damaged coins one-by-one without jamming. A sensor is provided adjacent the coin ejection mechanism to generate a signal each time a coin passes therethrough, the signals being detected and a count accumulated by a central processing unit.
A coin processing machine includes a hopper that empties into a coin splitting chute with divergent spouts to deliver a half batch of coins to each of two coin sorters operating in parallel. The receptacle is disposed on a counter top to discharge coins along a coin feeding path from the receptacle to the coin splitting chute. Feed control elements extend into the coin feeding path and are responsive to signals from the coin sorters for controlling the delivery of batches of coins to the coin splitting chute. In a first embodiment a trap door at the bottom of the hopper is operated to feed a second batch of coins into the coin sorters while a third batch is dumped into the hopper from a hinged inspection tray. In a second embodiment, larger batches of coins are carried from the receptacle to the hopper by a motor-driven conveyor to which power is interrupted in response to an excess flow of coins which is sensed within the coin sorters.
A coin sorter-counter comprising a stack of plates mounted for rotation about an axis inclined to the horizontal with a housing therearound having coin openings therein, coin pockets arranged around each plate for catching coins, a resilient wheel for each of the plates to move coins from the pockets through the housing openings, and coin sensors associated with each of the coin openings for counting the coins passing therethrough; also provided is overload protection for each of the coin sorting plates, and a sensor for detecting jams and reversing the drive motor to clear the jam.
