Patent ID: 6640956
Filing Date: 2003-11-04
Classification: G07D

Abstract:
A method of counting coins in a batch of coins for bag stopping, the method comprising:a first sensing of each coin of a plurality of mixed denominations of coins at a first location in advance of sorting openings for sorting the coins, said first sensing being an optical measuring of a size of each coin as each coin passes the first location and in response to said first sensing, generating coin dimensional data for each respective coin; using the coin dimensional data for counting the coins by denomination up to a bag stop limit for one of the denominations, wherein one of the coins thus counted is a bag stop limit coin which is one of the last five coins of a denomination to be discharged into a bag before the movement of the coins along the coin path is to be stopped; wherein said first sensing and counting for bag stopping is accomplished before said coins enter the sorting openings which provide the sorting of the coins from the plurality of mixed denominations; reducing speed of a coin driving member to slow movement of the coins when said optical measuring produces data indicative of a bag stop limit being reached for a respective denomination; and a second sensing of the bag stop limit coin after traveling a distance from the first location and entering a respective sorting opening, said second sensing confirming that the bag stop limit coin has reached a location for discharge to a bag.