Abstract: A coin-queueing head for use in a high-speed coin-sorting and counting apparatus is provided using a spiral coin-processing channel. Coins are fed from a central loading area through an infeed opening into an infeed area having a height permitting unrestricted outward travel of the coins to a peripheral limit having a generally helical shape. The coins are then fed into a coin-processing channel having a first portion for partially separating face-stacked coins. The coins then pass to a second ramped channel portion providing a gradual depessing of the coins and a sudden release into a third channel portion. An inwardly positioned camming lobe and an outwardly positioned expanded area are provided to facilitate lateral separation of the coins upon their release from the second channel portion.

Abstract: A coin-engaging apparatus for use with a coin-sorting machine having a rotating flexible surface, comprising: a cylindrical shaft positionable within a generally horizontally oriented cylindrical opening of the machine sized to receive the shaft therein, the opening having an open end and a closed end, the shaft being rotatably and horizontally positionable within the opening, the shaft having an eccentric, longitudinal, threaded first bore at an end positionable toward the open end of the opening, and having a longitudinal, threaded second bore at another end positionable toward the closed end of the opening; a coin-depressing wheel rotatably mounted along its axis of rotation on a shoulder screw, the screw being threadedly engageable by the eccentric first bore for positioning the wheel above the surface; a spacer screw threadedly engageable by the threaded second bore and adjustably extendable therefrom for butting against the closed end of said opening; and a locking screw for locking the shaft in a selec

Abstract: A coin-sorting and counting apparatus in which a mixture of coins of different denominations is deposited on a rotating surface and queued thereon by multiple coin guides. These coin guides define a coin-queueing channel for lining up coins on the rotating surface in an orderly fashion preparatory to introducing them into a coin-sorting channel. To increase the speed of sorting, a coin recirculation channel is also provided for receiving certain ones of the coins which have been moved by the rotating surface past the entrance to the coin-queueing channel and redirecting such coins to such entrance. One of the queueing channel guides also acts as a coin position retainer for retaining those coins which have been moved past the entrance of the queueing channel, without forming into the queue, at the same radial distance from the axis of the rotating surface while the surface moves such coins toward the recirculation channel.