Patent ID: 6484865
Filing Date: 2002-11-26
Classification: G07D

Abstract:
A coin discriminating apparatus comprising a coin passage member for supporting a lower surface of a coin, a first transporting belt disposed above the coin passage member adapted for forming a coin passage between the coin passage member and itself and holding the coin between the coin passage member and itself, thereby transporting it, a first light source for emitting light via a first transparent passage portion formed in the coin passage member toward the lower surface of the coin being transported on the coin passage member, first light receiving means for photoelectrically detecting light emitted from the first light source and reflected from the lower surface of the coin via the first transparent portion and producing image pattern data of the lower surface of the coin, a second transporting belt for supporting the lower surface of the coin, a coin passage forming member disposed above the second transporting belt for forming the coin passage between the lower surface thereof and the second transporting belt and holding the coin between the lower surface thereof and the second transporting belt, thereby transporting it, a second light source for emitting light via a second transparent passage portion formed in the coin passage forming member toward an upper surface of the coin being supported and transported by. the second transporting belt, second light receiving means for photoelectrically detecting light emitted from the second light source and reflected from the upper surface of the coin via the second transparent portion and producing image pattern data of the upper surface of the coin, first pattern data storing means for storing the image pattern data of the lower surface of the coin produced by the first light receiving means, second pattern data storing means for storing the image pattern data of the upper surface of the coin produced by the second light receiving means, reference pattern data storing means for storing reference pattern data of coins of each denomination, discriminating means for comparing the image pattern data of the lower surface of the coin stored in the first pattern data storing means with the reference pattern data of coins of each denomination stored in the reference pattern data storing means and comparing the image pattern data of the upper surface of the coin stored in the second pattern data storing means with the reference pattern data of coins of each denomination stored in the reference pattern data storing means, thereby discriminating whether or not the coin is acceptable and the denomination of the coin.