| US 7,520,374 B2 | ||
| Coin discrimination apparatus and method | ||
| Douglas Alan Martin, Woodinville, Wash. (US); Mark Louis Waechter, Seattle, Wash. (US); Rodrigo Berho, Seattle, Wash. (US); and John Partlow, Bakersfield, Calif. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Coinstar, Inc., Bellevue, Wash. (US) | ||
| Filed on Apr. 12, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/734,355. | ||
| Application 11/734355 is a continuation of application No. 10/825951, filed on Apr. 16, 2004, granted, now 7,213,697. | ||
| Application 10/825951 is a continuation of application No. 10/336617, filed on Jan. 02, 2003, granted, now 6,766,892. | ||
| Application 10/336617 is a continuation of application No. 09/703946, filed on Oct. 31, 2000, granted, now 6,520,308. | ||
| Application 09/703946 is a continuation of application No. 09/105403, filed on Jun. 26, 1998, granted, now 6,196,371. | ||
| Application 09/105403 is a continuation in part of application No. 08/883780, filed on Jun. 27, 1997, granted, now 5,988,348. | ||
| Application 08/883780 is a continuation in part of application No. 08/807046, filed on Feb. 24, 1997, abandoned. | ||
| Application 08/807046 is a continuation of application No. 08/672639, filed on Jun. 28, 1996, abandoned. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2007/0240967 A1, Oct. 18, 2007 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. G07D 5/08 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 194—317 [194/318; 194/319] | 20 Claims |
| 1. A method of counting coins, the method comprising:
receiving a plurality of randomly oriented coins in a coin input region of a coin counting machine;
moving the coins from the coin input region through a gap in a coin sensor, wherein the coin sensor includes a magnetic core
having first and second legs extending upwardly from an annular lower portion, wherein each of the first and second legs defines,
respectively, first and second generally opposed and spaced-apart faces, wherein the first and second spaced-apart faces extend
for over half the overall length of the magnetic core defining the gap through which the coins move, and wherein each of the
first and second legs includes an outer portion that transitions inwardly from the annular lower portion toward the end of
the respective leg so that the magnetic, core has a first overall width at the annular lower portion that is greater than
a second overall width at the opposing ends of the first and second legs;
discriminating the coins with the coin sensor to differentiate acceptable coins from unacceptable coins; and
sending information related to the coin data to a central computer located remotely from the coin counting machine.
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