Abstract: A coin feed control apparatus includes a hopper (20) having a discharge opening (17) that is disposed above a rotating disc (10) of a coin handling machine. The discharge opening (17) is positioned over a coin receiving region (14) of the disc. A coin feed control member (30) is mounted for pivotal movement to further open or further close the discharge opening (17). The feed control member (30), the discharge opening (17) and the coin receiving region (14) are sized such that the feed control member (30) will tend to move to partially close the discharge opening (17) in response to a build-up of coins in the coin receiving region, and thereby limit the flow of coins through the discharge opening (17), and such that the reduction of coins in the coin receiving region (14) will allow the feed control member (30) to drop and further open the discharge opening (17) to allow a greater flow of coins into the coin receiving region.

Abstract: A coin sorter has a circular sorting track with an upstanding rim. A diverter mechanism is located at the rim and may be actuated to move a selected coin away from the rim to an off-sort depression inwardly of the rim and then to an off-sort opening at the end of the depression. The diverter mechanism is actuated by a coin recognition system that includes an induction coil located beneath the track in advance of the diverter mechanism. Signals from the induction coil are read at spaced positions of a coin passing over the coil and compared with stored ranges of acceptable signals for coins of various denominations. The diverter mechanism is actuated to divert a coin to the off-sort opening when the signals for that coin do not fall within a range of acceptable values. The ranges of acceptable values can be established by calibrating the coin recognition system by processing a plurality of known acceptable coins of a denomination.