Abstract: In one aspect, a method for optimizing a usable volume of a coin receptacle associated with a coin-processing device includes receiving a plurality of coins in a coin input area of the coin-processing device, obtaining data for each coin from at least one sensor, associating the data for each coin with a denomination, depositing all of the received plurality of coins with an associated denomination into the coin receptacle of the coin-processing device, the coin receptacle being configured to accept, but not dispense, deposited coins until a maximum number of coins occupy the coin receptacle and to securely store the coins in the coin receptacle until removal of the coin receptacle from the coin-processing device and adjusting, responsive to the data, an upper limit of the maximum number of coins which may be deposited into the coin receptacle.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for optimizing a usable volume of a coin receptacle associated with a coin-processing device is provided. This method includes the steps of obtaining data from at least one sensor and adjusting, responsive to such data, an upper limit of coins which may be input into the receptacle or an available number of coins which may be input into the receptacle.

Abstract: A low power coin discriminator detects and identifies the denomination of a coin to activate a parking meter, telephone, or vending machine device. Initially the device is in a low power, dormant state. Insertion of a coin into the discrimator trips a switch which produces a wake-up pulse which turns on a microprocessor. The coin falls upon a piezoelectric element, a signal from which causes the microprocessor to activate a photoelectric sensor. The coin moves through the photoelectric sensor which determines the net cross-sectional area of the coin. The microprocessor samples the output of the photoelectric sensor to detect the minimum light incident upon the sensor at the point of maximum eclipse of the light beam. The microprocessor also samples the output of an integrator which integrates the output of the piezoelectric element to produce a numerical value proportional to the mass of the coin.

Abstract: A coin acceptor includes first and second members initially spaced apart from one another and frictionally carrying a third member having a coin selectively positioned thereon. Moving the first and second members toward one another causes relative displacement between the third member and the first and second members. The relative displacement is compared with a reference position.

Abstract: A coin acceptor includes first and second members initially spaced apart from one another and frictionally carrying a third member. Moving the first and second members toward one another displaces the third member a distance corresponding to the weight of the coin selectively positioned on the third member. The distance which the third member is displaced is compared with a reference position.

Abstract: Apparatus which includes a plurality of separate weight-responsive, electronic measuring elements, such as load cells, disposed on a base insertable into the bottom of a cash drawer or the like. The drawer has a number of compartments to hold coins of different denominations, a different denomination in each compartment. The cells are disposed one per compartment and are interconnected to an electronic totalizer display unit. The cells have analog signal outputs indicative of the weight of the coins in each of the compartments. The analog signal output in each case is converted to a digital signal output and passes to a totalizer unit providing a digital display of the monetary value of the coins in each compartment, the present monetary total of all compartments, and the change just added to or removed from the drawer. The apparatus includes weighting factor units for adjusting the analog signals to reflect the differences in weight and value of the various coin denominations, for accurate totalizing.