De La Rue Cash Systems Inc.

Klaus Muller

Thomas P Adams

Robert L Zwieg

John P Grajewski

Daniel Brandle

A coin sorting apparatus and method uses a light source ( ) disposed on one side of the coin path ( ); a coin moving member ( ) of light transmissive material; a coin path insert ( ) having at least a portion the is light transmissive; an optical detector ( ) disposed on an opposite side of the coin path ( ) from the light source ( ) for detecting coin size as a coin ( ) passes the coin path insert ( ); a coin core alloy composition sensor ( ); a coin surface alloy composition sensor ( ); an edge sensor ( ) disposed along a reference edge ( ) along the coin path; and a plurality of processors ( ) for receiving data developed from signals from the optical detector ( ), the coin core alloy sensor ( ), the coin surface ( ) alloy detector, and the coin edge sensor ( ), the data being for comparison with stored values for a plurality of denominations to determine the denomination of the coin ( ). A lens array ( ) helps direct light from the light source ( ) to the optical detector ( ). The coin path insert can have an upper surface of zirconia ceramic ( ) with a sapphire window ( ), or the upper surface can be an integral sapphire element ( ).

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Heidelberg, Germany

Klaus Muller