OPTICAL COIN DISCRIMINATION SENSOR AND COIN PROCESSING SYSTEM USING THE SAME

摘要

A coin processing system for processing a plurality of coins is presented including a rotatable disc for imparting motion to the plurality of coins and a stationary sorting head having a lower surface generally parallel to and spaced slightly away from the rotatable disc, the lower surface forming a coin path for directing the movement of each of the coins and a coin exit region for sorting and discharging coins. A light source is provided for outputting a light beam that intersects the coin path along a first direction between the rotatable disc and the stationary sorting head, as is a light detector for detecting the light beam. The light detector is adapted to generate a light-detection signal indicative of detecting the light beam. Each coin moving along the coin path and passing through the light beam attenuates the light beam causing an associated reduction in the generated light-detection signal.