Method and device for coin diameter discrimination

摘要

A coin diameter discriminating device wherein a coin is received in a coin transport mechanism which is rotated by a motor at an accurately controlled angular velocity. By such arrangement, the coin is carried along a predetermined path at an accurately controlled or regulated velocity past at least one optical sensor that provides a change of state output upon detecting an edge of the coin. The sensor is arranged to start a time counter that is stopped by a predetermined reference event such as the coin transport mechanism having rotated to a predetermined angular orientation. The time count in the counter therefore corresponds to the angular orientation of the coin transport mechanism at the time of detecting the coin edge, which also accurately corresponds to the diameter of the coin. The time count is then compared to corresponding time count ranges each of which relates to known standards of an acceptable coin denomination.