Coin sorter

A coin sorter is disclosed in which coins deposited on a horizontal rotating disc are directed in single file to the circumference of the disc where the coins are removed, by denomination, by means of plows which lift one side of the coin so that the coins will fly off the disc. The removed coins enter chutes which lead to collecting stations which may be either a discharge spout or a count module. If the chute for a particular denomination of coins is directed to a discharge spout, a count of the coins is accomplished by use of a light and a photocell positioned on opposite sides of the path of travel of the coins as they leave the sorting disc and before they enter the discharge chute. If the chute for a particular denomination is directed to a count module, the coins are deposited on a rotating horizontal plate which carries the coins to a discharge passage and the coins are counted as they are forced through the discharge passage. The flow of coins from the count module is halted when a preset predetermined count for the particular denomination is reached. Coins are fed to the sorting disc by means of a rotating wheel having spaced circular sector shaped pockets in which coins are manually deposited. The wheel can be rotated, either one pocket at a time or continuously, to have the open pockets moved over an opening in a horizontal plate over which the wheel rotates. Coins in a pocket fall through the opening into an inclined chute which leads to the sorting disc.