Patent ID: 6328150
Filing Date: 2001-12-11
Classification: G07D

Abstract:
A coin discriminating apparatus comprising a first light source for projecting light onto one surface of a coin being transported, a second light source for projecting light onto the other surface of a coin being transported, a first light detecting means for photoelectrically receiving light emitted from the first light source and reflected by the one surface of the coin and producing image pattern data of the one surface of the coin, first pattern data storing means for storing the image pattern data of the one surface of the coin produced by the first light detecting means, a second light detecting means for photoelectrically receiving light emitted from the second light source and reflected by the other surface of the coin and producing image pattern data of the other surface of the coin, second pattern data storing means for storing the image pattern data of the other surface of the coin produced by the second light detecting means, reference data storing means for storing reference data of coins of each denomination, discriminating means for comparing the image pattern data of the one surface of the coin stored in the first pattern data storing means with the reference data of coins of each denomination stored in the reference data storing means and comparing the image pattern data of the other surface of the coin stored in the second pattern data storing means with the reference data of coins of each denomination stored in the reference data storing means, thereby discriminating whether or not the coin is acceptable and the denomination of the coin.