Coin sorting head and coin processing system using the same

• US 10,181,234 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2017
• Issued: 01/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Rasmussen, James M., Blake, John R., Wendell, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beauchaine, Mark J
• Application Number:
  US15/782,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20180108198A1
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 3/121 arranged on inclined paths
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 3/128 Rotary devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 5/02 Testing the dimensions, e.g. thickness, diameter; Testing the deformation
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 9/008 Feeding coins from bulk

Abstract

According to some embodiments, a coin processing system for processing a plurality of coins, comprises a rotatable disc having a resilient pad coupled thereto for imparting motion to the plurality of coins, the resilient pad being generally circular and having an outer periphery edge. The system further comprises a stationary sorting head having a lower surface generally parallel to and spaced slightly away from the resilient pad, the lower surface forming a coin path for directing the movement of each of the coins and a coin reject region for discharging coins. The reject region comprises a diverter pin. A coin to be rejected coin travels toward the diverter pin in a radial outward downward tilted manner.

Claims

1. A coin processing system for processing a plurality of coins of a mixed plurality of denominations, the coins of the plurality of denominations having a plurality of diameters, comprising:

a rotatable disc having a resilient pad coupled thereto for imparting motion to the plurality of coins, the resilient pad being generally circular and having an outer periphery edge;

a stationary sorting head having a lower surface generally parallel to and spaced slightly away from the resilient pad, the lower surface forming a coin path for directing the movement of each of the coins and an exit slot area comprising a plurality of exit slots for discharging coins based on the diameter of each coin;

wherein the coin path below the exit slot area is positioned near the edge of the pad and wherein coins travel along the coin path below the exit slot area having their radially outward edges aligned along a common radius positioned radially outward of the edge of the pad such that the outward edges of the coins extend beyond the edge of the pad;

wherein each exit slot is associated with a given diameter of coin and wherein the plurality of exit slots are arranged from upstream to downstream to accept coins in the order of increasing diameter, wherein each exit slot is sized to permit coins of an associated diameter to enter the exit slot while not permitting coins of larger diameters to enter the exit slot.

2. The coin processing system of claim 1 wherein each exit slot comprises an elevated recess, a straight or nearly straight downstream exit wall, a curved inboard entrance ramp which is curved to match the size and shape of the corresponding coins to be exited via the associated exit slot, and a narrow peninsula formed between the outward side of a portion of the recess and the outer periphery of the sorting head.

3. The coin processing system of claim 2 wherein the elevated recess of each exit slot is positioned radially inward of the outer periphery of the sorting head and the edge of the sorting pad and wherein a coin traveling along the coin path having a diameter associated with a given exit slot is pressed by the pad upward toward the sorting head such that the radially inner edge of the coin is pressed into the elevated recess and a portion of the coin contacts a portion of the corresponding peninsula whereby the coin is positioned in the exit slot and driven out of the exit slot in a radial outward downward tilted manner via the rotation of the pad driving the coin along the exit wall.

4. The coin processing system of claim 2 wherein the elevation of the peninsula and the elevation of a portion of the sorting head radially inward of each exit slot are generally the same such that a coin having a larger diameter than a particular exit slot is sized to accept passes the exit slot in a relatively flat orientation with a portion of an inner side of the coin passing the exit slot being pressed against the portion of the sorting head radially inward of the exit slot and a more radially outward portion of the coin of the coin passing the exit slot being pressed against the peninsula associated with the exit slot.

5. The coin processing system of claim 1 wherein the sorting head has a generally circular outside periphery in the exit slot area centered about the same axis as the generally circular resilient pad and wherein the plurality of exit slots comprise a plurality exit slots corresponding to US coins including a penny, a nickel, a dime, a quarter, a half dollar, and a dollar, and wherein the exit slots are associated with inner radii, the inner radii not exceeding about 2 inches inward from the generally circular outside periphery of the sorting head in the exit slot area.

6. The coin processing system of claim 5 wherein the inner radii associated with the exit slots do not exceed about 1½

inches inward from the generally circular outside periphery of the sorting head in the exit slot area.

7. The coin processing system of claim 5 wherein the inner radii associated with the exit slots do not exceed about 1.3 inches inward from the generally circular outside periphery of the sorting head in the exit slot area.

8. The coin processing system of claim 5 wherein the inner radii associated with the exit slots do not exceed about 1.1 inches inward from the generally circular outside periphery of the sorting head in the exit slot area.

9. The coin processing system of claim 1 wherein the sorting head has a generally circular outside periphery in the exit slot area centered about the same axis as the generally circular resilient pad and wherein the plurality of exit slots comprise a plurality exit slots corresponding to US coins of a plurality of denominations and wherein the coins travel along the coin path below the exit slot area having their radially outward edges aligned along a common radius positioned radially outward of the edge of the pad by at least 0.1 inch.

10. The coin processing system of claim 9 wherein coins travel along the coin path below the exit slot area having their radially outward edges aligned along a common radius positioned radially outward of the edge of the pad by at least 0.15 inch.

11. The coin processing system of claim 9 wherein coins travel along the coin path below the exit slot area having their radially outward edges aligned along a common radius positioned radially outward of the edge of the pad by at least 0.18 inch.

12. The coin processing system of claim 9 wherein coins travel along the coin path below the exit slot area having their radially outward edges aligned along a common radius positioned radially outward of the edge of the pad by at least 0.3 inch.

13. A method of processing coins using a coin processing system for processing a plurality of coins of a mixed plurality of denominations, the coins of the plurality of denominations having a plurality of diameters, the coin processing system comprising a rotatable disc having a resilient pad coupled thereto for imparting motion to the plurality of coins, the resilient pad being generally circular and having an outer periphery edge and the coin processing system further comprising a stationary sorting head having a lower surface generally parallel to and spaced slightly away from the resilient pad, the lower surface forming a coin path for directing the movement of each of the coins and an exit slot area comprising a plurality of exit slots for discharging coins based on the diameter of each coin;

wherein the coin path in the exit slot area is positioned near the edge of the pad, the method comprising the acts of;

receiving the coins traveling along the coin path into the exit slot area with their radially outward edges aligned along a common radius positioned radially outward of the edge of the pad such that the outward edges of the coins extend beyond the edge of the pad.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein each exit slot is associated with a given diameter of coin and wherein the plurality of exit slots are arranged from upstream to downstream to accept coins in the order of increasing diameter, wherein each exit slot is sized to permit coins of an associated diameter to enter the exit slot while not permitting coins of larger diameters to enter the exit slot.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising receiving coins in each exit slot in a radial outward downward tilted manner with the outward edges of the coins extending beyond the edge of the pad.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising driving coins out of each exit slot in a radial outward downward tilted manner via the rotation of the pad driving the coin along the exit wall.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein each exit slot comprises an elevated recess, a straight or nearly straight downstream exit wall, a curved inboard entrance ramp which is curved to match the size and shape of the corresponding coins to be exited via the associated exit slot, and a narrow peninsula formed between the outward side of a portion of the recess and the outer periphery of the sorting head.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the elevated recess of each exit slot is positioned radially inward of the outer periphery of the sorting head and the edge of the sorting pad, the method further comprising:

pressing, via the pad, a coin traveling along the coin path having a diameter associated with a given exit slot upward toward the sorting head such that the radially inner edge of the coin is pressed into the elevated recess and a portion of the coin contacts a portion of the corresponding peninsula whereby the coin is positioned in the exit slot and driven out of the exit slot in a radial outward downward tilted manner via the rotation of the pad driving the coin along the exit wall.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the elevation of the peninsula and the elevation of a portion of the sorting head radially inward of each exit slot are generally the same, the method further comprising:

driving a coin having a larger diameter than a particular exit slot is sized to accept past the exit slot in a relatively flat orientation with a portion of an inner side of the coin passing the exit slot being pressed against the portion of the sorting head radially inward of the exit slot and a more radially outward portion of the coin of the coin passing the exit slot being pressed against the peninsula associated with the exit slot.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the sorting head has a generally circular outside periphery in the exit slot area centered about the same axis as the generally circular resilient pad and wherein the plurality of exit slots comprise a plurality exit slots corresponding to US coins including a penny, a nickel, a dime, a quarter, a half dollar, and a dollar, and wherein the exit slots are associated with inner radii, the inner radii not exceeding about 2 inches inward from the generally circular outside periphery of the sorting head in the exit slot area.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the inner radii associated with the exit slots do not exceed about 1½

inches inward from the generally circular outside periphery of the sorting head in the exit slot area.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the inner radii associated with the exit slots do not exceed about 1.3 inches inward from the generally circular outside periphery of the sorting head in the exit slot area.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the inner radii associated with the exit slots do not exceed about 1.1 inches inward from the generally circular outside periphery of the sorting head in the exit slot area.

24. The method of claim 13 wherein the sorting head has a generally circular outside periphery in the exit slot area centered about the same axis as the generally circular resilient pad and wherein the plurality of exit slots comprise a plurality exit slots corresponding to US coins of a plurality of denominations and wherein the method comprises driving the coins along the coin path below the exit slot area with their radially outward edges aligned along a common radius positioned radially outward of the edge of the pad by at least 0.1 inch.

25. The method of claim 24 comprising driving the coins travel along the coin path below the exit slot area with their radially outward edges aligned along a common radius positioned radially outward of the edge of the pad by at least 0.15 inch.

26. The method of claim 24 comprising driving the coins travel along the coin path below the exit slot area with their radially outward edges aligned along a common radius positioned radially outward of the edge of the pad by at least 0.18 inch.

27. The method of claim 24 comprising driving the coins travel along the coin path below the exit slot area with their radially outward edges aligned along a common radius positioned radially outward of the edge of the pad by at least 0.3 inch.

28. A U.S. coin processing system for processing a plurality of coins of a mixed plurality of U.S. denominations, the coins of the plurality of U.S. denominations having a plurality of diameters, comprising:

a rotatable disc having a resilient pad coupled thereto for imparting motion to the plurality of coins, the resilient pad being generally circular and having an outer periphery edge;

a stationary sorting head having a lower surface generally parallel to and spaced slightly away from the resilient pad, the lower surface forming a coin path for directing the movement of each of the coins and an exit slot area comprising a plurality of exit slots for discharging coins based on the diameter of each coin;

wherein the coin path below the exit slot area is positioned near the edge of the pad and wherein coins travel along the coin path below the exit slot area having their radially outward edges aligned along a common radius positioned radially outward of the edge of the pad such that the outward edges of the coins extend beyond the edge of the pad;

wherein each exit slot is associated with a given diameter of coin and wherein the plurality of exit slots are arranged from upstream to downstream to accept coins in the order of increasing diameter, wherein each exit slot is sized to permit coins of an associated diameter to enter the exit slot while not permitting coins of larger diameters to enter the exit slot; and

wherein each exit slot comprises a straight or nearly straight downstream exit wall having a coin-driven length of less than 1¾

inch.

29. The coin processing system of claim 28 wherein each exit slot comprises a straight or nearly straight downstream exit wall having a coin-driven length of less than 1½

inch.

30. The coin processing system of claim 28 wherein the exit slots comprise exit slots for dimes, pennies, nickels, and quarters, and wherein the exit slots for dimes, pennies, nickels, and quarters each comprise a straight or nearly straight downstream exit wall having a coin-driven length of less than 1¼

inch.

31. A coin processing system for processing a plurality of coins of a mixed plurality of denominations, the coins of the plurality of denominations having a plurality of diameters, comprising:

a rotatable disc having a resilient pad coupled thereto for imparting motion to the plurality of coins, the resilient pad being generally circular and having an outer periphery edge;

a stationary sorting head having a lower surface generally parallel to and spaced slightly away from the resilient pad, the lower surface forming a coin path for directing the movement of each of the coins and a coin reject region for discharging coins moving along the coin path satisfying one or more criteria;

the reject region comprising a diverter pin, a reject slot having a reject wall, a lower surface, and an elevated surface,

the diverter pin having a retracted position at or above the elevated surface and a diverting position wherein the diverting pin extends below the elevated surface toward the resilient pad and into the path of coins traveling along the coin path, wherein when the diverting pin is in the diverting position, a coin traveling along the coin path will contact the diverter pin and move in a radially outward direction;

wherein the coin path below the reject region is positioned near the edge of the pad and wherein coins travel along the coin path below the reject region having their radially inward edges aligned along a radius positioned near the edge of the pad such that the outward edges of the coins extend beyond the edge of the pad;

wherein the elevated surface is positioned radially inward of a portion of the lower surface and wherein a coin traveling along the coin path toward the diverter pin is pressed by the pad upward toward the sorting head such that the radially inner edge of the coin is pressed into the elevated surface and a portion of the coin contacts a portion of the lower surface whereby the coin travels toward the diverter pin in a radial outward downward tilted manner.

32. The coin processing system of claim 31 wherein the coins of the plurality of denominations each have a surface area and

wherein when the diverter pin is in its retracted position and a non-rejected coin passes through the reject region, at least 30% of the surface of the non-rejected coin is gripped by the resilient pad.

33. The coin processing system of claim 32 wherein when the diverter pin is in its retracted position and a non-rejected coin passes through the reject region, at least 35% of the surface of the non-rejected coin is gripped by the resilient pad.

34. The coin processing system of claim 32 wherein when the diverter pin is in its retracted position and a non-rejected coin passes through the reject region, at least 50% of the surface of the non-rejected coin is gripped by the resilient pad when the non-rejected coin is a U.S. dime, U.S. penny, U.S. nickel, or U.S. quarter.

35. The coin processing system of claim 32 wherein when the diverter pin is in its retracted position and a non-rejected coin passes through the reject region, at least 70% of the surface of the non-rejected coin is gripped by the resilient pad when the non-rejected coin is a U.S. dime.

36. The coin processing system of claim 31 wherein the coins of the plurality of denominations each have a surface area and wherein the diverter pin has a radially outside surface, and

wherein when the diverter pin is in its diverting position and a rejected coin contacts the diverter pin, at least 10% of the surface of the rejected coin is gripped by the resilient pad when the rejected coin is positioned radially outward of the radial outside surface of the diverter pin.

37. The coin processing system of claim 36 wherein when the diverter pin is in its diverting position and a rejected coin contacts the diverter pin, at least 20% of the surface of the rejected coin is gripped by the resilient pad when the rejected coin is positioned radially outward of the radial outside surface of the diverter pin.

38. The coin processing system of claim 37 wherein when the diverter pin is in its diverting position and a rejected coin contacts the diverter pin, at least 30% of the surface of the rejected coin is gripped by the resilient pad when the rejected coin is positioned radially outward of the radial outside surface of the diverter pin and when the rejected coin is a U.S. dime, U.S. penny, U.S. nickel, or U.S. quarter.

39. The coin processing system of claim 37 wherein when the diverter pin is in its diverting position and a rejected coin contacts the diverter pin, at least 48% of the surface of the rejected coin is gripped by the resilient pad when the rejected coin is a U.S. dime and when the rejected dime is positioned radially outward of the radial outside surface of the diverter pin.

40. A coin processing system for processing a plurality of coins of a mixed plurality of denominations, the coins of the plurality of denominations having a plurality of diameters, comprising:

a rotatable disc having a resilient pad coupled thereto for imparting motion to the plurality of coins, the resilient pad being generally circular and having an outer periphery edge;

a stationary sorting head having a lower surface generally parallel to and spaced slightly away from the resilient pad, the lower surface forming a coin path for directing the movement of each of the coins and a coin reject region for discharging coins moving along the coin path satisfying one or more criteria;

the reject region comprising a diverter pin and a reject slot having a reject wall, the reject wall being downstream of the diverter pin;

the diverter pin having a retracted position whereat a coin traveling along the coin path does not contact the diverter pin and the diverting pin having a diverting position whereat a coin traveling along the coin path will contact the diverter pin and move in a radially outward direction;

wherein when the diverter pin is in its diverting position and a rejected coin contacts the diverter pin, the resilient pad maintains control over the movement of the rejected coin at least until the rejected coin contacts the reject wall.

41. A reject region of a coin processing system for processing a plurality of coins of a mixed plurality of denominations, the coins of the plurality of denominations having a plurality of diameters, the coin processing system comprising a rotatable disc having a resilient pad coupled thereto for imparting motion to the plurality of coins, the resilient pad being generally circular and having an outer periphery edge and a stationary sorting head having a lower surface generally parallel to and spaced slightly away from the resilient pad, the lower surface forming a coin path for directing the movement of each of the coins and a coin reject region for discharging coins moving along the coin path satisfying one or more criteria, the reject region comprising:

a diverter pin having a generally cylindrical shape and having a bottom surface and generally vertical sides;

a reject slot having a reject wall;

a lower surface, and

an elevated surface,

the diverter pin having a retracted position at or above the elevated surface and a diverting position wherein the diverting pin extends below the elevated surface toward the resilient pad and into the path of coins traveling along the coin path, wherein when the diverting pin is in the diverting position, a coin traveling along the coin path will contact the diverter pin and move in a radially outward direction;

wherein the coin path below the reject region is positioned near the edge of the pad and wherein coins travel along the coin path below the reject region having their radially inward edges aligned along a radius positioned near the edge of the pad such that the outward edges of the coins extend beyond the edge of the pad;

wherein the elevated surface is positioned radially inward of a portion of the lower surface and wherein a coin traveling along the coin path toward the diverter pin is pressed by the pad upward toward the sorting head such that the radially inner edge of the coin is pressed into the elevated surface and a portion of the coin contacts a portion of the lower surface whereby the coin travels toward the diverter pin in a radial outward downward tilted manner,

wherein when the diverter pin is in its diverting position, a coin contacts the diverter pin while the coin is tilted in a radial outward downward tilted manner.

42. The reject region of claim 41 wherein when the diverter pin is in its diverting position, a coin contacts a vertical side of the diverter pin while the coin is tilted in a radial outward downward tilted manner.

43. The reject region of claim 42 wherein the bottom surface of the diverter pin is a generally flat, horizontal surface.

44. A method of processing coins using a coin processing system for processing a plurality of coins of a mixed plurality of denominations, the coins of the plurality of denominations having a plurality of diameters, the coins having a first surface and a second surface, the coin processing system comprising a rotatable disc having a resilient pad coupled thereto for imparting motion to the plurality of coins, the resilient pad being generally circular and having an outer periphery edge, the coin processing system further comprising a stationary sorting head having a lower surface generally parallel to and spaced slightly away from the resilient pad, the lower surface forming a coin path for directing the movement of each of the coins and a coin reject region for discharging coins moving along the coin path satisfying one or more criteria, the method comprising the acts of:

moving coins along the coin path into the coin reject region via the motion of the resilient path and the interaction of the coins with the lower surface of the sorting head, the first surfaces of the coins being adjacent to the resilient pad and the second surfaces of the coins being adjacent the lower surface of the sorting head;

wherein the coins are moved into the reject region with their radially inward edges being aligned along a radius positioned near the edge of the pad such that the outward edges of the coins extend beyond the edge of the pad; and

tilting the coins in a radial outward downward tilted manner while moving the coins in the coin reject region.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the reject region comprising a diverter pin, a lower surface, and an elevated surface, the diverter pin having a retracted position at or above the elevated surface and a diverting position wherein the diverting pin extends below the elevated surface toward the resilient pad and into the path of coins traveling along the coin path, the method further comprising the acts of:

moving the diverting pin to the diverting position,

driving a reject coin traveling along the coin path, via the movement of the resilient pad, into contact with the diverter pin whereby the coin moves in a radially outward direction, wherein the coin is driven into the diverter pin while tilted in a radial outward downward tilted manner.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein diverter pin has a generally cylindrical shape and has a bottom surface and generally vertical sides, wherein the act of driving comprises driving a reject coin into contact with a vertical side of the diverter pin while the coin is tilted in a radial outward downward tilted manner.

47. The method of claim 45 wherein the elevated surface is positioned radially inward of a portion of the lower surface, and

wherein the coins are titled via the resilient pad pressing upward on the coins traveling along the coin path such that the radially inner edges of the coins are pressed into the elevated surface and a portion of the coins contact a portion of the lower surface.

48. The method of claim 45 wherein the coins of the plurality of denominations each have a surface area and wherein the diverter pin has a radially outside surface, and further comprising:

gripping at least 10% of the surface of the reject coin by the resilient pad when the rejected coin is positioned radially outward of the radial outside surface of the diverter pin.

49. The method of claim 48 comprising:

gripping at least 20% of the surface of the reject coin by the resilient pad when the rejected coin is positioned radially outward of the radial outside surface of the diverter pin.

50. The method of claim 49 comprising:

gripping at least 30% of the surface of the reject coin by the resilient pad when the rejected coin is positioned radially outward of the radial outside surface of the diverter pin when the rejected coin is a U.S. dime, U.S. penny, U.S. nickel, or U.S. quarter.

51. The method of claim 49 comprising:

gripping at least 48% of the surface of the reject coin by the resilient pad when the rejected coin is positioned radially outward of the radial outside surface of the diverter pin when the rejected coin is a U.S. dime.

52. The method of claim 44 wherein the coins of the plurality of denominations each have a surface area, wherein the reject region comprising a diverter pin, the diverter pin having a retracted position out of the path of coins traveling along the coin path and a diverting position wherein the diverting pin extends into the path of coins traveling along the coin path, and the method further comprising:

maintaining the diverter pin in its retracted position so that a non-rejected coin passes through the reject region; and

gripping at least 30% of the surface of the non-rejected coin by the resilient pad as the non-rejected coin passes through the reject region.

53. The method of claim 52 comprising gripping at least 35% of the surface of the non-rejected coin by the resilient pad as the non-rejected coin passes through the reject region.

54. The method of claim 52 comprising gripping at least 50% of the surface of the non-rejected coin by the resilient pad as the non-rejected coin passes through the reject region when the non-rejected coin is a U.S. dime, U.S. penny, U.S. nickel, or U.S. quarter.

55. The method of claim 52 comprising gripping at least 70% of the surface of the non-rejected coin by the resilient pad as the non-rejected coin passes through the reject region when the non-rejected coin is a U.S. dime.

56. A method of processing coins using a coin processing system for processing a plurality of coins of a mixed plurality of denominations, the coins of the plurality of denominations having a plurality of diameters, the coin processing system comprising a rotatable disc having a resilient pad coupled thereto for imparting motion to the plurality of coins, the resilient pad being generally circular and having an outer periphery edge and the coin processing system further comprising a stationary sorting head having a lower surface generally parallel to and spaced slightly away from the resilient pad, the lower surface forming a coin path for directing the movement of each of the coins and a coin reject region for discharging coins moving along the coin path satisfying one or more criteria, wherein the reject region comprises a diverter pin and a downstream reject wall, the diverter pin having a retracted position out of the path of coins traveling along the coin path and a diverting position wherein the diverting pin extends into the path of coins traveling along the coin path, and the method comprising the acts of:

moving the diverting pin to the diverting position,

driving a reject coin traveling along the coin path, via the movement of the resilient pad, into contact with the diverter pin; and

maintaining control over the movement of the rejected coin, via the resilient pad, after the reject coin contacts the diverter pin at least until the rejected coin contacts the reject wall.

57. A coin processing system for processing a plurality of coins of a mixed plurality of denominations, the coins of the plurality of denominations having a plurality of diameters, comprising:

a rotatable disc having a resilient pad coupled thereto for imparting motion to the plurality of coins, the resilient pad being generally circular and having an outer periphery edge and a center;

a stationary sorting head having a lower surface generally parallel to and spaced slightly away from the resilient pad, the lower surface forming a coin path for directing the movement of each of the coins past a coin re-gauging area;

the re-gauging area comprising a gauging block, a lower surface, and an elevated surface,

wherein the coin path below the re-gauging area is positioned near the edge of the pad and wherein coins travel along the coin path into the re-gauging area having their radially inward edges aligned along a radius positioned near the edge of the pad such that the outward edges of the coins extend beyond the edge of the pad;

the rotation of the pad driving radial outward edges of the coins into contact with the gauging block,

wherein the elevated surface is positioned radially inward of a portion of the lower surface and the gauging block is positioned radially outward of the portion of the lower surface,

wherein when the coins contact the gauging block the coins are pressed by the pad upward toward the sorting head such that the radially inner edges of the coins are pressed into the elevated surface and a portion of the coins contacts a portion of the lower surface whereby the coins contact the gauging block in a radial outward downward tilted manner;

wherein the gauging block has a gauging wall having an upstream end and a downstream end, the downstream end of the gauging wall being positioned radially closer to the center of the pad than the upstream end of the gauging wall;

wherein the rotation of the pad drives the coins downstream along a gauging wall of the gauging block whereby the outer edges of the coins becomes radially aligned and wherein the coins are driven along the gauging wall in a radial outward downward tilted manner.

58. The coin processing system of claim 57 wherein the gauging wall is straight.

59. The coin processing system of claim 58 wherein the gauging block is a cuboid.

60. The coin processing system of claim 59 wherein the gauging block is a rectangular cuboid.

61. The coin processing system of claim 60 wherein the gauging block is a detachably coupled to the sorting head such that the gauging block may be uncoupled from the sorting head and reoriented and recoupled to the sorting head such that a different portion of the gauging block serves as the gauging wall.

62. The coin processing system of claim 57 wherein the sorting head has an outer periphery edge and wherein the coins exit the coin re-gauging area with the outer edges of the coins radially aligned along a radius which is outward of the edge of the pad and outward of the edge of the sorting head.

63. The coin processing system of claim 57 wherein the elevated surface has a generally triangular shape having a generally straight inward edge positioned at approximately 90°

degrees from a generally straight downstream edge and an outward wall having the shape of a circular arc forming the third side of the generally triangular shaped elevated surface.

64. The coin processing system of claim 63 wherein the outward wall of the elevated surface is generally parallel to and located radially inward of the outer periphery edge of the resilient pad.

65. A method of processing coins using a coin processing system for processing a plurality of coins of a mixed plurality of denominations, the coins of the plurality of denominations having a plurality of diameters, the coin processing system comprising a rotatable disc having a resilient pad coupled thereto for imparting motion to the plurality of coins, the resilient pad being generally circular and having an outer periphery edge and a center, the coin processing system further comprising a stationary sorting head having a lower surface generally parallel to and spaced slightly away from the resilient pad, the lower surface forming a coin path for directing the movement of each of the coins past a coin re-gauging area, the re-gauging area comprising a gauging block, a lower surface, and an elevated surface, wherein the coin path in the re-gauging area is positioned near the edge of the pad, wherein the elevated surface is positioned radially inward of a portion of the lower surface and the gauging block is positioned radially outward of the portion of the lower surface, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving coins traveling along the coin path into the re-gauging area with their radially inward edges being aligned along a radius positioned near the edge of the pad such that the outward edges of the coins extend beyond the edge of the pad;

driving radial outward edges of the coins into contact with the gauging block via the rotation of the pad;

pressing the coins, by the pad, upward toward the sorting head while the coins contact the gauging block such that the radially inner edges of the coins are pressed into the elevated surface and a portion of the coins contacts a portion of the lower surface whereby the coins contact the gauging block in a radial outward downward tilted manner;

wherein the gauging block has a gauging wall having an upstream end and a downstream end, the downstream end of the gauging wall being positioned radially closer to the center of the pad than the upstream end of the gauging wall;

driving the coins, via the rotation of the pad, downstream along a gauging wall of the gauging block whereby the outer edges of the coins becomes radially aligned and wherein the coins are driven along the gauging wall in a radial outward downward tilted manner.

66. The method of claim 65 wherein the gauging wall is straight.

67. The method of claim 66 wherein the gauging block is a cuboid.

68. The method of claim 67 wherein the gauging block is a rectangular cuboid.

69. The method of claim 68 wherein the gauging block is a detachably coupled to the sorting head such that the gauging block may be uncoupled from the sorting head and reoriented and recoupled to the sorting head such that a different portion of the gauging block serves as the gauging wall, the method further comprising the acts of:

uncoupling the gauging block from the sorting head;

reorienting the gauging block relative to the sorting head;

recoupling the gauging block to the sorting head such that a different portion of the gauging block is positioned to serve as the gauging wall.

70. The method of claim 65 wherein the sorting head has an outer periphery edge and wherein the method further comprises exiting the coins from the re-gauging area with the outer edges of the coins radially aligned along a radius which is outward of the edge of the pad and outward of the edge of the sorting head.

71. The method of claim 65 wherein the elevated surface has a generally triangular shape having a generally straight inward edge positioned at approximately 90°

degrees from a generally straight downstream edge and an outward wall having the shape of a circular arc forming the third side of the generally triangular shaped elevated surface.

72. The method of claim 71 wherein the outward wall of the elevated surface is generally parallel to and located radially inward of the outer periphery edge of the resilient pad.