Claims
- 1. In a coin sorter for sorting coins of a multiplicity of diameters having a plate including a side closely facing a rotating, generally planar, resilient disc, said plate having an opening through which coins are loaded onto said disc and defining an interior edge thereof, said plate having an outer edge forming boundaries of said plate, and said side of said plate being configured with lands and recesses which vary in shape and vary in clearance from said disc, the improvement comprising:
- one of said lands of said plate having an elongated edge in a region between said edges of said plate, said elongated edge extending through differing radaii and differing angular positions with respect to rotation of a radial line about the center of rotation of said disc, and at least a substantial length of said elongated edge being an inclined edge which is inclined generally toward, and in the direction of, rotation of said disc;
- a plurality of coin deflection regions, discrete ones of said regions being differently spaced from said inclined edge as a function of the difference in diameters of coins to be sorted, whereby a coin of a discrete diameter is rotated by said disc and moved to a position where it is engaged between one of said deflection regions and said inclined edge and is thereby urged by said rotating disc across said inclined edge and thereby captured by said one of said lands and at a discrete radial position which differs for coins of different diameters; and
- said outer edge of said plate having portions varying in distance from the center of rotation of said disc and selectively cooperating with the radius of the paths of rotation of said coins of a multiplicity of diameters;
- whereby coins of different diameters are discharged from said sorter at different positions along said outer edge of said plate.
- 2. A coin sorter as set forth in claim 1 wherein:
- said sorter includes adjacent inner and outer recesses, an outer edge of said outer recess guiding coins of one diameter in a first single file, with their outer edges at a first common radius, and an outer edge of said inner recess guiding coins of smaller diameters in a second single file, with their outer edges at a second common radius; and
- said elongated edge having an end region positioned to intercept coins rotated at different radii from said inner and outer recesses and to guide coins along it to and along said inclined edge.
- 3. A coin sorter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said coin deflection regions are positioned so that, of a multiplicity of diameters of coins to be sorted, the largest diameter coin is engaged first, and the smallest coin is engaged last.
- 4. A coin sorter as set forth in claim 3 wherein said elongated edge extends outward and in the direction of rotation of said disc, the smallest diameter coin is discharged first, and the largest diameter coin is discharged last.
- 5. A coin sorter as set forth in claim 3 wherein said elongated edge extends inward and in the direction of rotation of said disc, the largest diameter coin is discharged first, and the smallest diameter coin is discharged last.
- 6. A coin sorter as set forth in claim 3 wherein said plurality of coin deflection regions comprises a series of pins, each at a different spacing from said elongated edge, and said pins being positionable adjacent said disc.
- 7. A coin sorter as set forth in claim 6 further comprising circuit means, in turn including electrical means coupled to each said pin for counting coins engaging said pins.
- 8. A coin sorter as set forth in claim 7 wherein:
- said circuit means includes means for providing a signal responsive to a selected number of a selected diameter of coins having been counted; and
- said sorter includes pin positioning means responsive to said signal for abruptly increasing the spacing of said pins from said disc, whereby coins would thereafter bypass said pins.
- 9. A coin sorter as set forth in claim 8 wherein said elongated edge extends inward and in the direction of rotation of said disc, the largest coin is discharged first, and the smallest coin is discharged last.
- 10. A coin sorter as set forth in claim 8 wherein said elongated edge extends outward in the direction of rotation of said disc, and the smallest coin is discharged first, and the largest coin is discharged last.
CROSS-REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION
This invention is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/044,971, filed May 6, 1987 now Pat. No. 4,863,414, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 06/877,205, filed Jun. 23, 1986, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,128, granted Jul. 21, 1987.
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Continuation in Parts (2)
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Number |
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44971 |
May 1987 |
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Parent |
877205 |
Jun 1986 |
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