Abstract: A coin sensor and method of identifying coins by size and also discriminating invalid coins includes a portion of a coin track (63) over which coins (14) pass in a single file, an illumination source (92) for illuminating at least portions of the coins (14) as the coins move along the coin track (63), an optical detector (95) spaced from the coin track (63) for detecting a size of at least a portion of each coin passing the coin sensor along the coin track, and a telecentric lens (94) positioned between the optical detector (95) and the coin track (63), such that the portion of each coin passing the optical detector (95) is seen to have an apparent size and configuration independent of a variation in distance of the coin from the telecentric lens (94) as each coin moves along the coin track (63). The optical sensor and detector (90) can be angled to assist in preventing stray light from the bottom of the coins from being transmitted to the detector (95).

Abstract: A coin sensor and method of identifying coins by size and also discriminating invalid coins includes a portion of a coin track (63) over which coins (14) pass in a single file, an illumination source (92) for illuminating at least portions of the coins (14) as the coins move along the coin track (63), an optical detector (95) spaced from the coin track (63) for detecting a size of at least a portion of each coin passing the coin sensor along the coin track, and a telecentric lens (94) positioned between the optical detector (95) and the coin track (63), such that the portion of each coin passing the optical detector (95) is seen to have an apparent size and configuration independent of a variation in distance of the coin from the telecentric lens (94) as each coin moves along the coin track (63). The optical sensor and detector (90) can be angled to assist in preventing stray light from the bottom of the coins from being transmitted to the detector (95).

Abstract: A coin sorting apparatus and method uses a light source (50) disposed on one side of the coin path (23); a coin moving member (21) of light transmissive material; a coin path insert (41) having at least a portion the is light transmissive; an optical detector (55) disposed on an opposite side of the coin path (23) from the light source (50) for detecting coin size as a coin (14) passes the coin path insert (41); a coin core alloy composition sensor (42); a coin surface alloy composition sensor (43); an edge sensor (46) disposed along a reference edge (45) along the coin path; and a plurality of processors (90, 94, 95, 107, 96) for receiving data developed from signals from the optical detector (55), the coin core alloy sensor (42), the coin surface (43) alloy detector, and the coin edge sensor (46), the data being for comparison with stored values for a plurality of denominations to determine the denomination of the coin (14).

Abstract: A coin sorting apparatus and method uses a light source (50) disposed on one side of the coin path (23); a coin moving member (21) of light transmissive material; a coin path insert (41) having at least a portion the is light transmissive; an optical detector (55) disposed on an opposite side of the coin path (23) from the light source (50) for detecting coin size as a coin (14) passes the coin path insert (41); a coin core alloy composition sensor (42); a coin surface alloy composition sensor (43); an edge sensor (46) disposed along a reference edge (45) along the coin path; and a plurality of processors (90, 94, 95, 107, 96) for receiving data developed from signals from the optical detector (55), the coin core alloy sensor (42), the coin surface (43) alloy detector, and the coin edge sensor (46), the data being for comparison with stored values for a plurality of denominations to determine the denomination of the coin (14).