Patent ID: 8172654

Claim:
In a coin processing machine for processing coins of varying diameters, the coins comprising a first set of larger diameter coins and a second set of smaller diameter coins, the coin processing machine of the type having means for discharging a singulated stream of coins to be processed onto a flat surface, a side of each coin against the flat surface, a first stationary finger above the flat surface and a second stationary finger above the flat surface, the first stationary finger spaced from the second stationary finger and defining a first opening between them located to receive the stream of singulated coins on the flat surface, the first opening larger than the largest diameter coin of the coins to be processed by the coin processing machine, the second stationary finger comprising a first guide surface that extends from the first opening in a downstream direction to abut and guide coins received through the opening in the downstream direction, coins abutting against the first guide surface supported solely on the flat surface, and a belt run above the flat surface, the belt run engaging the coins and driving the coins through the first opening, the improvement comprising: a third finger over the flat surface and spaced from the first guide surface, the third finger in a normal operating position wherein the third finger and the first guide surface define between them a second opening downstream from the first opening to receive the stream of singulated coins on the flat surface, the second opening smaller than the first opening; the third finger movably mounted on the flat surface and movable from the normal operating position away from the first guide surface to a second operating position, the third finger biased towards the normal operating position, the size of the second opening increasing as the third finger moves from the normal operating position to the second operating position; the third finger comprising a second guide surface facing the first opening when the third finger is in the normal position, the second guide surface extending in a downstream direction towards the first guide surface when the third finger is in the normal position; and the flat surface being underneath the entire third finger for all positions of the third finger, the flat surface extending without interruption from the third finger to the first guide surface whereby said side of a coin located between the third finger and the first guide surface contacts only the flat surface.