METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTION OF COIN DENOMINATION AND OTHER PARAMETERS

A coin sorting apparatus and method uses a light source (50) disposed on one side of the coin path (23); a coin moving member (21) of light transmissive material; a coin path insert (41) having at least a portion the is light transmissive; an optical detector (55) disposed on an opposite side of the coin path (23) from the light source (50) for detecting coin size as a coin (14) passes the coin path insert (41); a coin core alloy composition sensor (42); a coin surface alloy composition sensor (43); an edge sensor (46) disposed along a reference edge (45) along the coin path; and a plurality of processors (90, 94, 95, 107, 96) for receiving data developed from signals from the optical detector (55), the coin core alloy sensor (42), the coin surface (43) alloy detector, and the coin edge sensor (46), the data being for comparison with stored values for a plurality of denominations to determine the denomination of the coin (14). A lens array (56) helps direct light from the light source (55) to the optical detector (55). The coin path insert can have an upper surface of zirconia ceramic (34, 35) with a sapphire window (49), or the upper surface can be an integral sapphire element (37).