Resilient disc coin sorter having recesses converging in the direction

Abstract

A coin sorter has a rotating disc with a resilient upper surface that operates in conjunction with an overlying stationary sorter plate. The plate has a nominal plane surface that is spaced from the resilient surface of the disc a distance less than the thickness of the thinnest coin to be sorted. A series of recesses are provided from the nominal surface. Each recess has inwardly and outwardly facing converging shoulders which extend from a distance at least as great as the diameter of the largest coin to a distance which is less than the contact width of the smallest coin. Coins are deposited on the disc through a central opening in the plate and are moved through the recesses. The converging shoulders form the coins into a single file against one of the shoulders and strip overlapped or interleaved coins so that a single layer of coins is formed in a single file adjacent the perimeter of the disc. A series of peripherally spaced slots are formed near the perimeter of the plate each having a width that is unique to a diameter of one of the coins to be sorted. The coins leaving the last recess are pinched between the plate and resilient surface and enter the slots where they continue to be pinched and are driven against a curved forward edge of the slot which leads the coins off of the disc into collection points.