Patent ID: 7559831

Claim:
A coin separating unit comprising: a coin transporting unit including a flexible first rotatable belt for receiving coins of different size on a support surface of the first rotatable belt that translates the coins linearly for subsequent processing, the support surface having a predetermined flexibility and friction characteristic to engage the coins for linear translation and to enable coin movement transverse to a direction of movement where the coin transporting unit provides forward drive of the coins; a separating roller unit positioned above the support surface at a distance no greater than twice the thickness of the coins to be separated, the surface of the separating roller unit closest to the support surface moving in a direction opposite to the movement of the support surface; a supporter roller unit mounted on a pivotable lever is operatively located upstream of the separating roller unit, rotates freely around the rotating shaft, contacts the first rotatable belt, moves away from the first rotatable belt when the coin contacts the supporter roller unit, the separating roller unit and the supporter roller unit rotate about parallel axes extending above and across the rotatable belt, the supporter roller unit is driven by contact with the rotatable belt or passing coin and, a coplanar support member with trailing and leading edges configured to reduce interference is mounted for relative movement adjacent and underneath the flexible rotable belt to limit the extend of transverse coin movement beneath the separating roller unit to enable only a single coin to pass beneath the separating roller.