Patent ID: 6976589
Filing Date: 2005-12-20
Classification: G07D,G07F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for receiving and sorting disks having a parameter, the parameter of each disk having one of a plurality of values, comprising: a frame; a wheel having at least one hole forming a well for receiving a disk, the wheel being rotatably coupled to the frame; a motor coupled to the frame and the wheel for controllably rotating the wheel about an axis; a disk sensor coupled to the frame and positioned relative to the well, the sensor for sensing the value of the parameter of the disk and responsively generating a parameter value signal as a function of the value; a collecting device coupled to the frame and positioned relative to the wheel, the collecting device having at least first and second collectors for receiving disks; an ejector coupled to the frame and positioned relative to the well, the ejector for ejecting the disk from the well in response to receiving an eject signal; and, a controller coupled to the disk sensor and the ejector, the controller for receiving the parameter value signal and responsively sending an eject signal to the ejector to eject the disk from the well into the first collector when the parameter value signal has a first value and for sending an eject signal to the ejector to eject the disk from the well into the second collector when the parameter value signal has a second value.