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United States Patent [19]Taipale et ale

[11] Patent Number:[45] Date of Patent:

4,607,649Aug. 26, 1986

[54] COIN SORTER(75] Inventors: Dale L. TaipaIe, Delafield; John H.Winkelman, Hartland, both of Wis.[73] Assignee: Brandt, Inc., Watertown, Wis.[21] Appl. No.: 563,804[22] Filed: Dec. 21, 1983[51] Int. C1 .4 G07D 3/00[52] U.S. C1..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133/3 C[58J Field of Search 133/3 R, 3 A, 3 C[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS574,528 1/1897 Elder et al. 133/3 C

2,835,260 5/1958 Buchholz 133/82,906,276 9/1959 Blanchette et al. 133/3A4,086,928 5/1978 Ristvedt et al. 133/3 A4,098,280 7/1978 Ristvedt et al, 133/3A4,234,003 III I980 Ristvedt et al. 133/3 A4,360,034 1111982 Davila et al. 133/3 A4,444,212 4/1984 Ristvedt et al. 133/3 A4,506,685 3/1985 Childers et al, 133/3A4,531,531 7/1985 Johnson et al. 133/3 A4,543,969 10/1985 Rasmussen 133/3 A4,564,037 1/1986 Childers et al, 133/3 A

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS2296361 8/1976 France 133/3 CPrimary Examiner-John J. CambyAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Quarles & Brady

[57] ABSTRACfA coin sorter is disclosed in which a flexible rotatingdisc opposes a stationary plate that has surfaces whichform a series of guide surfaces which are spaced fromthe disc a distance less than the thickness of coins to besorted. Coins are deposited on the rotating disc througha central opening in the plate. The guide surfaces formthe coins into a single layer and single file at the periph-ery of the disc. The coins in the single me are pinchedbetween the disc and plate with their inner edgesagainst an outwardly facing spiral shoulder and withtheir outer edges projecting beyond the perimeter of thedisc. The coins in the single file are engaged, in de-scending order of diameter, by a series of stationaryplows spaced about the periphery of the disc. Whenengaged by a plow. each coin is removed from thepinch between the rotating disc and the plate and issorted off from the disc at that point.

16 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures

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1 4,607,649COIN SORTER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to coin handling, and more 5

particularly to an improved mechanism for sortingcoins of mixed denominations.There are several basic types of coin sorting equip-ment which can be classified based upon their principleof operation. First if a so-called rail sorter in which 1 0coins are rolled on edge, single file down an inclinedramp or rail. In order of size, each coin denomination isremoved at a particular point on the ramp or rail. Re-moval may be by way of protrusions, called plows,which bump a coin of a particular size off the rail. Natu- 1 Srally, the larger coins must be removed before thesmaller coins. An example of such a rail-type sorter isfound in U.S. Pat. No. 574,528, issued Jan. 5, 1897 toElder, et al. A second form of coin sorter isthe so-calledcore sorter in which individual coins are carried by an 20inclined rotating scalloped plate to an elevated openingwhere the coins are discharged into tapered slots ar-rayed about the periphery of a rotating core shaped likea truncated cone. The coin settles to a particular level inthe tapered slot which isindicative of its size, and there- 2Sfore its denomination, and iscounted and removed fromthat level. An example of the core sorter is found in U.S.Pat. No. 2,835,260, issued May 20, 1958 to Buchholz. Athird form is the sifter type of sorter in which the coinspass through a series of perforated plates of descending 30opening size until caught at a level appropriate to theirsize. An example of sifter-type sorter is found in U.S.Pat. No. 4,360,034 issued Nov. 23, 1982 to Davila, et al.Still another form of sorter employs a horizontalrotating disc and mechanisms by which the coins are 35carried by centrifugal force to an outer rim where thecoins are formed into a single file-.The coins may beremoved at various points on the periphery by plows(see U.S. Pat. No. 2,906,276, issued Sept. 29, 1959 toBlanchette, et a!.), or by flipping them over the rim (see 40U.S. Pat. No. 4,086,928, issued May 2, 1978 to Ristvedt,et al.). This latter patent utilizes a rotating disc whichhas an upper surface formed as a flexible mat which iscompressible by the coins. Another approach using aflexible rotating disc isfound in U.S. Pat. No. 4,098,280, 45issued July 4, 1978 and its related U.S. Pat. No.4,234,003, issued Nov. 8, 1980 to Ristvedt, et al. In thatapproach, the coins are arrayed in a single file against aledge until they encounter spaced areas where the coinsare no longer held between a sorter plate and the rotat- 50ing disc and are free to be thrown from the disc bycentrifugal force.The coin sorter of the present invention also utilizes arotating resilient disc but operates on the principle thatthe coins are continuously pinched between the disc 55and an overlying sorter plate until they are physicallyremoved at spaced stations around the periphery of thedisc, with each station unique to a particular denomina-tion of coin. The disc surface has a high coefficient offriction compared to the plate so that it carries coins 60over the surface of the plate as the disc rotates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with the invention, a coin sorter in-cludes a rotating resilient disc with an opposing station- 65ary sorter plate which directs coins to a single layer,single file about the perimeter of the disc, the single fileof coins being pinched between the sorter plate and the

2disc, together with means disposed about the perimeterof the plate for removing the coins by size at spacedlocations about the perimeter.Further in accordance with the invention the sorterplate has a shoulder which extends toward the discalong a portion of the periphery of the plate, the shoul-der is formed along a spiral path, and the file of coins isaligned with their innermost edges against the shoulderand with the coins projecting beyond the edge of thedisc at the .location where they are to be engaged forremoval.Also in accordance with the invention, the means forremoving the coins by size includes a series of stationaryplows disposed about the periphery of the plate andeach spaced from the plate a distance which will engageone particular denomination of coin in the file of coins,the coins being removed by order of size with the larg-est coin being removed first.Still further in accordance with the invention, there isprovided a mechanism for aligning a series of coins intoa single layer, single file which includes a rotating resil-ient disc and an opposing stationary plate having a cen-tral opening through which coins can be placed on thedisc and which also includes a series of guide surfacesconfronting the disc which urge the coins to move intoa single file and then into a single layer adjacent theperiphery of the disc where the coins are pinched be-tween the sorter plate and the disc.It is an object of the present invention to provide anaccurate and effective coin sorter which has few mov-ing parts and which can sort coins of many differentdenominations.It isanother object of the invention to provide such acoin sorter in which a mix of coins are aligned and heldin a single file between two opposing surfaces untilphysically removed.It isanother object of the invention to provide such acoin sorter which is adaptable to sorting the coinage ofa wide variety of countries.It is still another object of the invention to provide amechanism for aligning coins in a single layer, single filefor subsequent handling in a wide variety of coin han-dling equipment including sorters.The foregoing and other objects and advantages ofthe invention will appear in the description which fol-lows. In the description, reference is made to the ac-

companying drawings which illustrate a preferred em-bodiment of the invention.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFIG. 1is a view in perspective of a coin sorter incor-porating the present invention;FIG. 2 is an exploded view in perspective illustratingthe arrangement of the resilient disc and overlyingsorter plate together with the plow mechanism for re-moving the coins after they have been aligned into asingle file;FIG. 3 is a plan view of the underside of the sorterplate and plows;FIG. 4 is a view in vertical section through the sorter

plate and rotating disc and taken in the plane of the line4-4of FIG. 3;FIG. 5is a view in vertical section similar to FIG. 4but taken in the plane of the line 5-5 of FIG. 3; andFIG. 6 is a view in vertical section on an enlargedscale taken in the plane of the line 6-6 of FIG. 3 and

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3 4,607,649illustrating the removal of a coin from the periphery ofthe sorter plate.DET AlLED DESCRIPTION OF THEPREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1and 2, the coin sorter includes alower assembly 10comprised of an outer discharge ring11 having a central opening 12 and a horizontal disc 13disposed in the central opening 12. The disc 13 has anupper surface in the form of a flexible resilient pad 14. 10The pad 14is formed of a natural or synthetic rubber orother elastomer having a coefficient of friction of ap-proximately 0.5 and being deformable. An upper assem-bly 15 comprises a central sorter plate 16 and an outerplow ring 17 in which the sorter ring 16 is mounted. 15The upper assembly 15 isjoined to the lower assembly10by a series of threaded bolts 20with spacers 21whichcontrol the spacing between the upper and lower assem-blies. As will appear hereafter, that spacing isimportantto the principle of operation of the sorter. 20A series of legs 23 support the lower assembly 10 at alevel above a table top or other surface on which thesorter is positioned. An electric motor 24 is disposedbeneath the lower assembly 10 and is connected by abelt drive 25 to the input shaft 26 of a right angle drive 2527 which drives the shaft for the rotatable disc 13. Thedisc 13 with its resilient pad 14 rotates in a clockwisedirection as viewed from above and in FIG. 2.The sorter plate 16 has an opening 29 adjacent itscenter. A hopper 30 is connected to the opening 29 so 30that a supply of coins can be directed through the open-ing 29 to the top surface of the pad 14. The sorter plate16 is formed of metal and therefore has surfaces whichhave a low coefficient of friction in comparison with

that of the pad 14. The rotating pad 14 will urge coins 35to move over the surfaces of the sorter plate 16. Thesorter plate 16 has a series of guide surfaces which, ingeneral, will direct coins from an area adjacent thecentral opening 29 first into a single row except foroverlapping coins and then into a single layer by mov- 40ing the overlapping coins back to the area adjacent thecentral opening. In this way, the coins will be formedinto a single layer, single file at a position adjacent theperimeter of the plate 16. Specifically, the sorter plate16includes a coin collection area 31which isdefined by 4Sa surface 32 disposed about a portion of the centralopening 29. The surface 32 is spaced from the pad 14 adistance which is greater than the thickness of the larg-est coin to be handled. Thus, in the collection area 31several layers of coins may accumulate.A ramp 33 is formed on the underside of the sorterplate 16 and leads from the collection area 31 to a firstguide surface 34. The purpose of the ramp 33 isto makea course separation of the coins in the collection area 31into a single file or row. The ramp 33 has a width about 55equal to the diameter of the smallest coin to be handledso that only one row of coins of the smallest size shouldbe able to travel over the ramp 33 to the first guidesurface 34. However, because of overlapping and inter-leaving of coins, it is possible for more than one row of 60coins abreast to be directed to the first guide surface 34.(See the overlapped coins A and A' shown in phantomlines on FIG. 3.)The first guide surface 34 is spaced at "zero" distancefrom the top surface of the resilient pad 14. That is, 65there is practically no clearance between the surfaceand any clearance will be only a fraction of the thick-ness of the thinnest coin. For U.S. coins, the spacing

4will be between 0 and 0.010 inches. Coins which travelover the ramp 33 to the first guide surface 34 will bepinched very tightly between the surfaces, and overlap-ping coins will not be able to separate. However, the5 radially innermost row or rows of overlapping coinswill project over an arcuate edge 35 of the first guidesurface 34 and will move back into the collection area31. The collection area 31 is defined by two additionalarcuate edges 36 and 37 both of which are tapered sothat coins directed against them will not bounce backtoward the opening 29.The first guide surface 34 will maintain the radialposition of coins first pinched at the ramp 33 as theytravel over the first guide surface 34. Overlapped coinsmust be removed, however, and that is the function of arelief area 38 formed in a radially inward portion of thefirst guide surface 34. The relief area 38 includes asharply tapered arcuate edge 39 leading to a surface 40which is spaced a considerable distance above the sur-face of the pad 14; a distance which substantially ex-ceeds the thickness of the thickest coin handled. Whenoverlapped coins encounter the relief area 38, the pinch-ing pressure holding the overlapped coins together wilJbe removed entirely as to the radially inward coin. (Seethe coins Band B' shown in phantom lines on FIG. 3.)The radially innermost coin will then be moved by thepad 14 over a ledge 41 which is in the path of the un-pinched coins. The ledge 41 isformed along the edge 36of the collection area 31. As a result, coins which areremoved from the first guide surface 34at the relief area38 will be moved back to the collection area.When coins have passed the relief area 38 they will bein a single row or file and in a single layer. The coinsnext are urged by the pad 14 to a second guide surface42 which is formed at the end of the first guide surface34. The second guide surface 42 is spaced from the pad14 a distance which is greater than the spacing of thefirst guide surface 34 from the pad 14 but still less thanthe thickness of the thinnest coin. The difference inelevation results in two shoulders 43 and 44 defining thesides of the second guide surface 42. The shoulder 44constitutes an extension of the ledge 41 and coinsmoved onto the second guide surface 42wilJ have theirinner edges placed against the shoulder 44. The shoul-der 44 extends along a spiral path and will carry coinstoward the periphery of the sorter plate 16 where thecoins encounter a peripheral track 45.The track 45 has a track surface 46 which opposes the50 top surface of the pad 14. At least the radial outer edgeof the track surface 46 isspaced from the pad a distanceless than the thickness of the thinnest coin so that thecoins are pinched while on the track 45: A peripheralshoulder 47 defines the inner edge of the track 45. Thetrack shoulder 47 is formed as a spiral so that the shoul-der iscloser to the periphery of the sorter plate 16 at theend of the track 45 than at its beginning at the secondguide surface 42. Coins which are guided by the secondguide surface 42 to the peripheral track 45will continueto be pinched between the track surface 46 and the pad14 and will be continuously urged against the spiralshaped track shoulder 47 so that their inner edges will

be disposed against the shoulder 47. By the cooperationof the ramp and surfaces of the sorter plate and theresilient pad 14, coins will have been formed into asingle layer and a single file in the peripheral track 45.The pinching force exerted by the sorter plate 16 andpad 14 on the coins will be sufficient to hold them

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5 4 ,607 ,649against the effects of centrifugal force and it is thereforenecessary to physically remove them from the track 4 5 .The mechanism for removing the coins from thesingle file in the track 4 5 includes a series of plows 50through 60 each of which is mounted on the underside 5of the plow ring 17 and each of which is disposed at aunique distance from the shoulder 47 of the track 4 5 .The plows are each encountered by a coin of a particu-lar size as the coins are carried about the track 4 5 . Thefirst plow 50 isis spaced a distance from the shoulder 47 1 0which is less than the diameter of the largest coin butwhich is greater than the diameter of the next largestcoin. As a result, the largest diameter coin will encoun-ter an inclined surface 50 0 and will be tilted asit rides upthe plow 50 . (See FIG. 6).The radially inner edge of the 15tilted coin will be directed into a channel 65 formed inthe surface 46 of the track 4 5 . There is one channel 65at each plow location or station. The channels 65 eachextend for a distance along the shoulder 47 of the track4 5 and then angle outwardly to the perimeter of the 20sorting plate 16.A coin which encounters a plow and istilted thereby will depress the outer edge of the pad 14and will be forced along the channel 65 until the chan-nel 65 directs it free of the sorter plate and of the pad.The exiting coins will travel through discharge open- 25ings 67 each of which mounts a discharge chute 68which carries that particular denomination of coin to aparticular collection point (not shown).Because of the spiral shape of the track shoulder 47,the smallest diameter coins may riot extend beyond the 30perimeter of the sorter plate at the widest portion of thetrack 45. The track shoulder 47 is so shaped, however,that even the smallest coin to be handled will extendbeyond the edge of the track 45 when it reaches thefinal plow station. It is, however, possible to use the end 35of the track 4 5 beyond the last plow station to off-sort acoin of even smaller diameter since the shoulder 47merges with the perimeter of the plate 16.Greater versatility can be provided by mounting eachof the plows for adjustment along a line toward and 40away from the shoulder 47. One standard coin sortermachine can then be used for different coinage systemsor for mixtures of coins and tokens by simply adjustingthe spacing between the plows and the shoulder of the~~ ~Because of the unique way in which coins are formedinto a single layer in a single file while always beingpinched between the rotating resilient pad and the un-derside of the sorter plate, a major portion of the outerperimeter of the pad and sorter plate is available for 50sorting stations. As a result, a large numbr of differentsize coins can be sorted. In the preferred embodimentillustrated, eleven sorting stations are shown. Coinagesystems which are foreign to the United States can beeasily accommodated. 55Because the coins are always gripped between thesorter plate 16 and the resilient pad 14 until physicallyremoved by a plow or similar mechanism, the lower andupper assemblies 10 and 15, respectively, need not bedisposed in a horizontal plane but may be mounted at an 60angle if desired for purposes of conserving space.The system of forming the single layered, single fileof coins can be used in coin handling equipment otherthan coin sorters. Thus, forming coins of a single de-nomination into a single layer, single file can be used in 65coin wrapping equipment of the type illustrated forexample in U.S. Pat. No. 4 ,089,151 , issued May 1 6, 1 97 8to Bergman et al.

6Counters may be placed at each sorting station ordischarge chute 68 on the coin sorter to count the coinsas they exit the sorter plate and pad so that a count maybe kept and recorded of the coins of each particulardenomination as they are sorted.We claim:1. A coin sorter for mixed denominations of coins,comprising:a rotatable resilient disc;means for rotating said disc;a stationary sorter plate spaced from said disc, saidsorter plate having a central opening so that coinsmay be placed on said disc, said sorter plate alsohaving a series of guide surfaces opposing said discand spaced closer to said disc than the thickness ofthe thinnest coin to be sorted, said guide surfacesadapted to pinch coins between the sorter plate andsaid disc to cause a single layr of coins of mixeddenomination to form in a single file at the periph-ery of the disc as said disc rotates, said guide sur-faces including an outer peripheral track surface atthe periphery of the sorter plate with the single fileof coins being pinched at the periphery betweenthe track surface of the sorter plate and the disc;anda plurality of graduated sorting stations spaced aboutthe periphery of said disc and each including meansexternal of the periphery of said disc and adaptedto engage and release coins from the pinch betweenthe sorter plate and disc in descending order oftheir diameter.2. A coin sorter in accordance with claim 1 whereinsaid sorting stations each include a channel formed inthe sorter plate and leading from a point adjacent theinnermost edge of the file of coins to the periphery ofthe sorter plate, and a plow engaging the outermostedge of the coin at each station to tip the innermost edgeof the coin into the channel.3. A coin sorter for mixed denominations of coins,comprising:a rotatable resilient disc;means for rotating said disc;a stationary sorter plate spaced from said disc, saidsorter plate having a central opening so that coinsmay be placed on said disc, said sorter plate alsohaving a series of guide surfaces opposing said discand spaced closer to said disc than the thickness ofthe thinnest coin to be sorted, said guide surfacesadapted to pinch coins between the sorter plate andsaid disc to cause a single layer of coins of mixeddenomination to form a single file at the peripheryof the disc as said disc rotates;said series of guide surfaces including a first guidesurface disposed at a distance from the disc whichis substantially less than the thickness of the thin-nest coin to be sorted, a ramp connecting said firstguide surface to an area adjacent said central open-ing, a second guide surface disposed at a seconddistance from the disc which is greater than thedistance of the first guide surface from said disc butstill less than the thickness of the thinnest coin to besorted, and an outer peripheral track at the perime-ter of said sorting plate, at least a portion of theradial width of said track being spaced from saiddisc a distance which is less than the thickness ofthe thinnest coin, said track including an outwardlyfacing shoulder against which the inner edge of thefile of coins is positioned; and

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7 4,607,649a plurality of graduated sorting stations spaced aboutthe periphery of said disc and each including meansadapted to engage and release coins from the pinchbetween the sorter plate and disc in descendingorder of their diameter. 54. A coin sorter in accordance with claim 3 whereinsaid area adjacent said central opening is defined by asurface o f said sorter plate which is spaced from saiddisc a distance greater than the thickness of the thickestcoin to be sorted. 105. A coin sorter in accordance with claim 3 whereinsaid shoulder is formed as a spiral.6. A coin sorter in accordance with claim 3 togetherwith a relief area provided in said first guide surfacebefore said second guide surface, said relief area includ- ISing a surface which is spaced from the disc a distancegreater than the thickness of the thickest coin to besorted.7. A coin sorter, comprising:a rotating disc having a resilient, relatively high fric- 20

tion surface;a stationary sorter plate confronting said disc surfaceand including a peripheral track with a relativelylow friction surface facing towards the disc surfaceand at least a portion of the radial width of the 25track surface being spaced a distance from the discsurface which is less than the thickness of the thin-nest coin to be sorted, said track including a shoul-der spaced inwardly from the periphery of thesorter plate and following a spiral path; 30means for delivering a single layer of coins in a singlefile to said track where said coins are pinched be-tween the opposing surfaces of said disc and sorterplate and with the inner edge of the file of coinsdisposed against said shoulder; and 35means for removing coins from said track in descend-ing order of size at spaced points about the perime-ter of said sorter plate.

S. A coin sorter in accordance with claim 7 whereinsaid shoulder is spaced inwardly of the periphery of the 40sorter plate a distance less than the diameter of thesmallest coin to be sorted, and said removal means in-cludes a series of protrusions each spaced a distancefrom said shoulder which is unique to a particular sizeof coin to be sorted so that the outer edges of all coins 45of that sizewill be engaged by the respective protrusionas the coins are carried along said track.9. A coin sorter in accordance with claim 8 whereinsaid removal means also includes a channel in said trackopposite each protrusion, said channels extending from 50a point adjacent the shoulder to the perimeter of thesorter plate to engage the inner edge of the coin en-gaged by the respective protrusion and to direct thecoins off of the track. .10. A coin sorter in accordance with claim 7 together 55with a discharge chute at each spaced point to receivecoins removed from the track at that point.11. A coin handling mechanism for forming a plural-ity of coins into a single layer and a single file, compris-~ r oa rotatable resilient disc;means for rotating said disc;a stationary plate having surfaces confronting saiddisc, said plate including a central opening so thatcoinsmay be placed against said disc, a ramp lead- 65ing from an area adjacent said central opening to afirst guide surface which extends in an arcuatedirection and leads to a second guide surface which

8in turn leads to a peripheral track surface at theperimeter of said plate, said second guide surfaceand at least a portion of the radial width of saidtrack surface being disposed at a distance from saiddisc which is less than the thickness of the coins,and said first guide surface being disposed at adistance from said disc which is less than the spac-ing of said second guide surface and track surfacefrom said disc.12.A coin handling mechanism for forming a plural-ity of coins into a single layer and a single file, compris-ing:a rotatable resilient disc;means for rotating said disc;a stationary plate having surfaces confronting saiddisc, said plate including a central opening so thatcoins may be placed against said disc, a collectionarea adjacent said opening in which multiple layersof coins can be accommodated, a ramp leadingfrom said collection area to a first guide surfacewhich is at substantially zero distance from saiddisc and extends in an arcuate direction, a reliefarea formed along a radially inward portion of saidfirst guide surface at a distance from said ramp, saidrelief area including a surface which is spaced fromsaid disc a distance greater than the thickness of thecoins, and a second guide surface at the end of saidfirst guide surface and beyond said relief area, saidsecond guide surface leading to the perimeter ofsaid plate and being spaced from said disc a dis-tance less than the thickness of the coins.13. A coin handling mechanism for forming a plural-ity of coins into a single layer and a single file, compris-ing:

a rotatable resilient disc;means for rotating said disc; anda stationary plate having surfaces confronting saiddisc, said plate including a central opening so thatcoins may be placed against said disc, said platealso having a series of guide surfaces spaced fromthe disc a distance that is less than the thickness ofthe coins and including arcuate shoulders that faceoutwardly from the central opening of said plate,said guide surfaces adapted to pinch coins betweenthe plate and said disc to urge a single layer of coinsto form in a single file with their inner edges againstthe shoulders.14. A coin handling mechanism for forming a plural-ity of coins into a single layr and a single file, compris-ing:a rotatable disc having a resilient surface;means for rotating said disc; anda stationary plate having non-resilient surfaces con-fronting the resilient surface of said disc, said plateincluding a central opening so that coins may beplaced against said disc, said non-resilient surfacesincluding a series of guide surfaces spaced from thedisc a distance that is less than the thickness of thecoins and at least one arcuate shoulder that facesoutwardly towards the perimeter of said plate, saidguide surfaces adapted to pinch coins between theplate and said disc to urge a single layer of coins toform in a single file with their inner edges againstthe shoulder as said disc rotates.15. A coin handling mechanism in accordance withclaim 14 wherein said shoulder follows a spiral path.16. A coin sorter, comprising:a rotatable disc with a resilient surface;

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9 4,607,649means for rotating said disc;a hard stationary sorter plate confronting said resil-ient surface and including a peripheral track facingthe resilient surface, at least a portion of the radialwidth of the track surface being spaced a distance 5from the resilient surface that is less than the thick-ness of the thinnest coin to be sorted, said trackincluding a shoulder spaced inwardly from theperiphery of the sorter plate a distance lessthan thediameter of the smallest coin to be sorted; 10

10means for delivering a single layer of coins in a singlefile to said track where said coins are pinched be-tween the opposing surfaces of said disc and sorterplate and with the inner edge of the file of coinsdisposed against said shoulder; andmeans for engaging the projecting edges of the coinsin said single file and for removing coins from thetrack in descending order of size at spaced pointsabout the perimeter of said sorter plate.* * * * *

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