Patent ID: 6988606

Claim:
A coin processing machine for sorting a plurality of coins having different characteristics, comprising: a rotatable disc for imparting motion to said plurality of coins; a stationary sorting head having a lower surface generally parallel to and spaced slightly away from the rotatable disc, said lower surface forming a coin path leading to an exit station at which said coins are discharged; a discrimination sensor for discriminating among said plurality of coins based on said characteristics of said coins, said sensor being located over said coin path and within said stationary sorting head, said sensor having a transmission coil and two reception coils, said transmission coil producing a magnetic field over a section of said coin path, said transmission coil being further adapted to receive a composite signal including a high fundamental frequency component and a low fundamental frequency component, said two reception coils being configured to detect signals that are indicative of said characteristics of each coin passing along said coin path, said characteristics including at least a coin composition, a coin thickness, and a coin diameter; and a processor coupled to said discrimination sensor for selectively processing said coins in response to said signals received from said discrimination sensor.