Coin sorting head and coin processing system using the same

Abstract

According to some embodiments, a coin processing system for processing a plurality of coins, comprises a rotatable disc having a resilient pad coupled thereto for imparting motion to the plurality of coins, the resilient pad being generally circular and having an outer periphery edge, a center, and an upper surface. The system further comprises a stationary sorting head having a lower surface generally parallel to and spaced slightly away from the resilient pad, the lower surface forming a coin path for directing the movement of each of the coins past a coin re-gauging area. The re-gauging area comprises a gauging block, a lower surface, and an elevated surface. The rotation of the pad drives radial outward edges of the coins into contact with the gauging block. The elevated surface is positioned radially inward of a portion of the lower surface and the gauging block is positioned radially outward of the portion of the lower surface. When the coins contact the gauging block the coins are pressed by the pad upward toward the sorting head such that the radially inner edges of the coins are pressed into the elevated surface and a portion of the coins contacts a portion of the lower surface whereby the coins contact the gauging block in a radial outward downward tilted manner. The gauging block has a gauging wall having an upstream end and a downstream end, the downstream end of the gauging wall being positioned radially closer to the center of the pad than the upstream end of the gauging wall. The rotation of the pad drives the coins downstream along a gauging wall of the gauging block whereby the outer edges of the coins becomes radially aligned and wherein the coins are driven along the gauging wall in a radial outward downward tilted manner with the radially inward, lower edges of the coins being above the upper surface of the pad.