GB2042783A - Sorting coins - Google Patents

Abstract

Electronic coin sorting apparatus comprising an electronic denomination checker 1 capable of sensing each coin deposited into the apparatus against a predetermined set of denomination criteria, generating a denomination signal corresponding to the denomination of the coin, and dispensing the coin downwards, a first coin way 10 disposed below the denomination checker, a plurality of shutters 21, 22, 23 respectively corresponding to the denomination criteria and so disposed as to distribute the coin in correspondence with the sensed denomination of the coin, a plurality of second coin ways 11, 12, 13 connected with the first coin way, respectively, corresponding to the shutters, and a plurality of coin detectors 16, 17, 18 respectively disposed in the second ways. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electronic coin sorting apparatus BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an electronic coin sorting apparatus capable of electronically sorting deposited coins by denomination, and more particularly to an electronic coin sorting apparatus including an electronic denomination checker for detecting the deposited coins by denomination and distributing means for sorting the deposited coins in response to an output signal generated from the electronic denomination checker.

The conventional automatic dispenser for dispensing goods, such as cigarettes, soft drink, tickets or the like, comprises a coin sorting apparatus which judges the genuineness and denomination of coins deposited into the dispenser to sort the coins. Such a coin sorting apparatus is adapted to judge and sort coins in accordance with a predetermined mechanical property of the coins, such as outside diameter, thickness, weight or the like, and has the disadvantage that a false coin is judged as a genuine coin if the mechanical property of the false coin is the same as that of genuine one.

Moreover, such a coin sorting apparatus has the disadvantage that when the apparatus has erroneously sorted a coin deposited into the dispenser by denomination, the dispenser makes an erroneous adjustment transaction.

It is, therefore, a prirnary object of the present invention to provide an electronic coin sorting apparatus capable of precisely and quickly sorting each deposited coin by denomination, which comprises an electronic denomination checker for detecting the deposited coin by denomination to generate a denomination signal, and distributing means which sorts and distributes coins in response to the denomination signal.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electronic coin sorting apparatus which is capable of preventing an erroneously sorted coin from being transported into a wrong position within the apparatus.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an electronic coin sorting apparatus including comparing means for comparing a denomination signal generated from the electronic denomination checker with a signal generated from a coin runway in the apparatus or vice versa, and means for generating an error signal when the comparing means does not generate a predetermined output signal.

Other objects as well as the numerous advantages of the electronic coin sorting apparatus according to the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a sectional elevational schematic view of an electronic coin sorting apparatus as a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2ofFig. 1; Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view of a coin runway which is applicable to the apparatus of Fig.

1; Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing a driving circuit for shutters of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a series of wave forms illustrating the operation of the driving circuit of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing a modified driving circuit for shutters of the apparatus of Fig.

1;and Fig. 7 is a series of wave forms illustrating the operation of the modified driving circuit of Fig. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring, now, to Fig. 1 , there is shown an electronic coin sorting apparatus capable of electronically sorting coins deposited into the apparatus by denomination, as one preferred embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus includes an electronic denomination checker 1 which senses a coin 9 deposited into the apparatus through a slot (not shown), and a coin distributing device which distributes the coin sensed by the denomination checker 1 by denomination. The coin distributing device includes a first coin way 10, shutters 21, 22 and 23, second coin ways 11, 12 and 13, and a return coin way 14.

The electronic denomination checker 1 includes an entry portion 3 which is adapted to receive the coin 9 deposited into the apparatus, an electronic denomination sensor 4 which is capable of sensing the coin 9 against a predetermined set of denomination criteria and generating a denomination signal corresponding to the denomination of the coin 9, a dispensing portion 110 which is adapted to dispense the coin 9 downwards, and a guide plate 5 which is disposed to guide the deposited coin 9 from the entry portion 3 to the dispensing portion 1 10. The predetermined set of denomination criteria corresponds to small, medium and large denomination coins, e.g., three United States coins of 10 cents, 25 cents and 50 cents.

The electronic denomination sensor 4 is designed for judging if the deposited coin 9 is genuine and to which denomination the coin 9 belongs according to an electronic property of the coin, such as impedance or the like. For example, a conventional proximity switch may be employed as the sensor 4, which includes an oscillation circuit whose oscillation status, i.e., a load impedance or a frequency, varies on approach of coins. Such sensor 4 is able to check the deposited coin 9 as to its denomination and genuineness by comparing the oscillation status of the oscillation circuit which is induced when the coin 9 is present within a detection field of the proximity switch, with the reference oscillation status of the same circuit which is predetermined in correspondence with each coin denomination.

The sensor 4 may include one proximity switch, or plural ones if desired. The deposited coin 9 passes the denomination checker 4 along the guidsplate 5 and drops from the dispensing portion 110. In the dispensing portion, there is disposed a buffer member 6 which is adapted to absorb or mitigate the dynamic shock of the coin 9 in a generaily horizontal direction (indicated by arrow mark X in the drawing), and dispense it downwards (indicated by arrow mark Y in the drawing). The member 6 is made of ceramics. While the coin 9 passes the denomination sensor 4, the coin is checked by the sensor 4 as to its genuineness and denomination.The denomination sensor 4 is adapted to generate a denomination signal SS when the small denomination coin is sensed by the sensor 4, a denomination signal SM when the medium denomination coin is sensed thereby, a denomination signal SL when the large denomination coin is sensed thereby, and no signal when any other denomination coin or false coin passes the sensor 4.

Below the electronic denomination checker 1, there is disposed the first coin way 10 extending downwards from the dispensing portion 11 0. The first way 10 is connected with three second coin ways 11, 12 and 13, and return coin way 14 at discrete positions or levels thereof. The ways 11, 12, 13 and 14 are separated by walls 102, 103 and 104. The second coin ways 11,12 and 13 respectively are dimensioned so as to roughly fit the small, medium, and large denomination coins.

That is, widths A, B and C of the second coin ways, respectively, are dimensioned to be slightly larger than the diameters of the small, medium, and large denomination coins.

Provided that 10 cent, 25 cent and 50 cent coins are predetermined as the small, medium and large denomination coins, a 50-cent coin, for instance, will not enter into the second coin ways corresponding to smaller denomination coins, i.e.

10and 25-cent coins.

At bottom ends thereof, the second coin ways communicate with a temporary retaining device 34 which is adapted to temporarily retain coins by denominations. Compartments 31,32, and 33 corresponds to the second coin ways 11,12, and 13, respectively and are adapted to temporally store the small, medium and large denomination coins.

The three shutters 21,22 and 23 are respectively disposed so as to come into discrete positions along the length of the first coin way 10 to distribute coins sensed by the denomination checker 1 toward the second coin ways 1 1 2 and 13 in correspondence with the denominations of the sensed coins. The shutters 21, 22 and 23 are respectively located at positions where they may come out to form substantially continuing portions of the walls 102, 103 and 104. On a side wall 105 of the first coin way 10, there are provided slits 20 corresponding to the shutters 21, 22 and 23. Each of the shutters 21, 22 and 23 is an upwardly curved plate which is movable in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the plane of Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the shutters 21,22 and 23 are connected with electrical plungers 26,27 and 28, respectively.Normally, each of the shutters 21,22 and 23 is located at an original position (shown in solid lines) under the influence of a reset spring (not shown in the drawings). In response to a denomination signal generated from the denomination sensor 4, one of the plungers 26, 27 and 28 is energized so as to move the particular shutter connected therewith toward a distributing position as shown in broken lines to thereby close the first coin way 1 0. Thus, the shutters 21,22 and 23 are disposed to horizontally slide through the slits 20 and close the first coin way 10 in response to the denomination signals generated from the denomination sensor 4. The shutters Z 21, 22, 23 correspond to the small, medium and large denomination coins, respectively.

The first coin way 10 below the shutter 23 is connected with the return coin way 14 which is disposed to guide coins toward a coin receptacle 37 to which the depositor is accessible. As shown in Fig. 1, there are disposed coin detectors 1 6,1 7, 18 and 19 in inner walls of the ways 11,12,13 and 14, respectively. Each of the detectors 1 6, 1 7, 18 and 19 is adapted to detect any coin that may be present in the corresponding way and to generate a coin detection signal. The detector may be conventional switches, such as photoelectric switches, proximity switches, snap action switches, or the like.

In Fig. 3, there is shown a coin runway 7 which may be optionally connected with the entry portion 3 of the checker 1. In the coin runway 7, there are disposed an entry coin detector 8 and a stopping plunger 80. The plunger 80 is connected to a drive circuit (not shown) which is connected to the detector 8. If the detector 8 detects a deposited coin and, then, another deposited coin within a predetermined time period, e.g. 0.5 second, the plunger 80 is set so as to retain the subsequent coin 90 until the end of said predetermined time period, and on expiration of said time period, is reset so as to allow the retained coin 90 to pass the plunger 80.

Alternatively, the drive circuit of the plunger 80 may be modified so that the retained coin 90 may be allowed to pass the retaining plunger 80 in response' to any detection signal from the detectors 16, 11, 18 and 1 9.

Thus, deposit coins 9 are aliowed to pass the sensor one after another at a predetermined interval which is present to a time period at least commensurate with the detection sensitivity of the sensor 4 and the responsiveness of the shutters 21,22 and 23.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, there are shown a driving circuit for driving the shutters 21, 22 and 23 of the coin sorting apparatus of Fig. 1 and the wave forms illustrating the operation of the circuit.

The denomination signals SS, SM, and SL generated from the denomination sensor 4 are applied to input set terminals S of flip-flops 41, 42 and 43. The coin detectors 16, 17,18 and 19 are connected to an OR-gate 44, and an output terminal of the gate 44 is connected to each of reset terminals R of the flip-flops 41 42 and 43, The flip-flops 41, 42 and 43 respectively include power amplifying circuits (not shown in Fig. 4) and are connected to the plungers 26, 27 and 28. As the flip-flop 41, 42 or 43 is set by the denomination signal SS, SM or SL from the denomination sensor 4, the corresponding plunger 26, 27 or 28 is energized, so that the corresponding shutter 21, 22 or 23 is moved to close the first coin way 1 0.

As a small denomination coin is sensed by the denomination sensor 4, for example, the sensor 4 generates the denomination signal SS, the flipflop 41 is set, the plunger 26 is energized, and the shutter 21 comes into its distributing position to close the first coin way 1 0. Accordingly, the small denomination coin dropping from the dispensing portion 110 of the denomination checker 1 is guided to the second coin way 11 by the shutter 21 positioned within the first coin way 1 0. The small denomination coin guided into the second way 11 is detected by the coin detector 16, whereup on the flip-flop 41 is reset, the plunger 26 is disenergized, and the shutter 21 is reset by reset spring (not shown) to the original position.

The detected coin in the second way 11 1 is further guided into the compartment 31 to be temporarily stored therein. When a medium or large denomination coin is sensed by the sensor 4, the shutter 22 or 23 is operated in the same manner as above. The above operation will be apparent from Fig. 5, wherein the wave form SS shows the denomination signal SS from the sensor 4, the wave form S16 shows the coin detection signal from the detector 16, and the wave form S41 shows the output signal from the flip-flop 41.

As a false coin or any denomination coin other than the above-mentioned small, medium and large denomination coins is deposited into the apparatus, the sensor 4 does not generate any of said predetermined denomination signals, SS, SM and SL. All shutters 21,22 and 23 then remain in the original positions, and the-first coin way is not closed by any of the shutters. Therefore, said false or other coin is returned to the receptacle 37 through the return coin way 14. If by accident the shutter 21,22 or 23 corresponding to a denomination signal SS, SM or SL from the sensor 4 is delayed to move into its distributing position, the coin to be distributed by the corresponding shutter is sensed by detector 1 9 and returned to the receptacle 37.The corresponding flip-flop 41, 42 or 43 is reset, and the corresponding shutter is returned to its original position without distributing any coin.

In the present embodiment, the detectors 16, 1 7 and 1 8 are adapted to detect whether the coin dispensed from the dispensing portion 110 of the checker 1 has been distributed into the corresponding second coin way 11, 1 2 or 13. The corresponding shutter is also reset by a detection signal from the corresponding detector. Therefore, the coin sorting apparatus may accurately sort coins according to the denomination criteria since the shutters 21 to 23 are driven back to their original positions after actual distribution of coin has been confirmed.

Thus, the coin sorting apparatus may sort coins accurately according to the denomination criteria mentioned hereinbefore because each shutter is driven back to its original position only after the coin has been detected by the corresponding detector 16,17,18or 19.

Referring to Fig. 6, there is shown a modified embodiment of the present invention, which includes logic circuits for driving shutters 21 , 22 and 23 and for judging if the apparatus of Fig, 1 has successfully sorted a coin deposited into the apparatus. The denomination sensor 4 is connected to first, second and third logic circuits corresponding to the denomination signals SS, BM and SL from the sensor 4. In Fig. 6, however, there is shown only the first logic circuit 600 connected to the sensor 4 to receive denomination signal SS, the second and third logic circuits being not shown for the convenience of explanation.The second and third logic circuits, respectively, consist of the same components as those of the first logic circuit 600, and are adapted to receive denomination signals SM and SLfrom the sensor 4. Moreover, the first logic circuit 600 is connected to the coin detector 16, an INHIBIT- gate 71, the plunger 26 engaged with the shutter 21, a distribution error control circuit 72 and a deposit coin operation circuit 73. The second logic circuit (not shown) is connected to the coin detector 17, INHIBIT-gate 71, plunger 27, control circuit 72 and operation circuit 73, The third logic circuit (not shown) also is connected to the coin detector 18, INHIBIT-gate 71, plunger 28, control circuit 72 and operation circuit 73.

In the first logic circuit 600, an AND-gate 61 has two input terminals respectively connected to the sensor 4 and INHIBIT-gate, i.e., NOR-gate 71, and is connected to a first timer 62 capable of presetting a time period TI. A reset terminal of the timer 62 is connected through a differentiator 65 and a Not-element 64 to the detector 1 6. An output terminal of the timer 62 is connected to a second timer 63, a NOT-element 66, an AND-gate 70, and the NOR-gate 71. . The second timer 63 is capable of presetting a timer period TS, and is connected to the plunger 26 and an AND-gate 67.

A reset terminal of the second timer 63 is connected to the coin detector 1 16. The NAD-gate 70 serves as a comparator which compares a detection signal S16 from the detector 16 with an output signal S62 from the first timer 62 er vice versa, and is connected to the operation circuit 73.

An OR-gate 69 is connected through the ANDgate 67 to the second timer 63, through the ANDgate 67, an AND-gate 68 and the NOT-element 66 to the first timer 62, and through the AND-gate 68 to a detector 1 6.

In Fig. 7, there are shown wave forms for illustrating the operation of the logic circuit 600.

Wave forms SS, S61, S62, S63, Ski 6, S70 and S69, respectively, show output signals from sensor 4, AND-gate 61, first timer 62, second timer 63, coin detector 16, AND-gate 70 and ORgate 69.

A series of wave forms in status A7 show the operation of the circuit 600 when a coin deposited into the denomination checker 1 has successfully been sorted by denomination. When a small denomination coin deposited into the checker 1 is sensed by the sensor 4, the sensor 4 generates a denomination signal SS at time point tO. The signal SS is applied to the gate 61, and the gate 61 immediately generates an output signal S61 at the time point tO. The signal S61 is applied to the first timer 62 which has a response time TO. The timer 62 generates an output signal S62 after said time TO from the time point tO. The output signal S62 is applied tothe INHIBIT-gate 71, and immediately the signal S61 disappears.In response to the denomination signal SS, the timer 62 presets a second time point t2 where the shutter 21 should be reset at latest. The timer 62 generates the output signal S62 which lasts a time period T1 unless a reset signal is applied to the timer 62. When the output signal S62 is applied to the second timer 63, the second timer 63 presets a time point tl and, after the elapse of time period T2, generates an output signal S63 at the time point t1.

At the time point tl, the signal 563 is applied to the plunger 26 so as to move the corresponding shutter 21 to its distributing position, i.e., the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 2. The time point t1 is predetermined in accordance with the distance between the sensor 4 and the shutter 21 by adjusting the time period T2. The time point where the shutter 22 or 23 should be moved to its distributing position in response to the signal SM or SL from the sensor 4 is also predetermined in accordance with the distance between the sensor 4 and the shutter 22 or 23 in the second or third logic circuit.

When the detector 1 6 detects a coin distributed by the shutter 21, it generates an output signal S1 6. The appearance of the signal S16 causes the second timer 63 to be reset, and the disappearance of the signal S16 causes the first timer 62 to be reset. When the timer 63 is reset by the signal S16, the plunger 26 is reset and the shutter 21 returns to its original position.

In response to the output signal S16, the ANDgate 70 generates an output signal S70 to be applied to the operation circuit 73. The appearance of output signal S70 means that a deposited coin has been successfully sorted in the apparatus of Fig. 1.

The wave forms in status 7B in Fig. 7 show the operation of the logic circuit 600 when a small denomination coin deposited into the apparatus of Fig. 1 has accidentally failed to be distributed into the corresponding second way 11. As the small denomination coin has been deposited into the checker 1, the sensor 4 generates a denomination signal SS and the second timer 63 then generates an output signal S63 in the same manner as in status 7A. At the time point t1, in response to the signal S63, the corresponding shutter 21 moves to its distributing position.In the present case, however, the shutter 21 is not able to distribute the deposited coin into the second coin way 11 and any output signal is not generated by the detector 16, because the deposited coin has passed through the distributing position of the shutter 21 before the time point t1, or the coin has been caught up partway between the sensor 4 and the shutter 21. Since the detector 16 does not generate an output signal, the first timer 62 is not reset and after the preset time period T1, i.e., at the preset time point t2, ceases to generate the output signal S62. In response to the signal 563 and the disappearance of the signal S62, the ORgate 69 generates an output signal S69 at the time point t2.In response to the disappearance of the signal S62 after a time lag T3, the second timer 63 stops generating the output signal S63 and the gate 69 stops generating the signal S69.

The output signal S69 from the gate 69 means that the small denomination coin deposited into the checker 1 was erroneously distributed in the apparatus.

The wave forms in status 7C as shown in Fig. 7 represent the operation of the circuit 600 when a false coin or any denomination coin other than the small denomination coin has been erroneously distributed into the second way 11 and the detector 1 6 has detected the coin. When a wrong coin, i.e., said false coin or other denomination coin, has been deposited into the sensor 4, the sensor 4 does not generate the small denomination signal SS. Therefore, output signals are not generated from the timers 62 and 63, gate 61, and gate 70. When the wrong coin has accidentally entered into the second way 11, the detector 1 6 generates an output signal S16 to be applied to the gate 68, and the gate 69 generates the output signal S69 to be applied to the control circuit 72.

In the present embodiment, the absence of an output signal from the gate 70 means that a small denomination coin has not been distributed into the second way 11, and an output signal S69 from the gate 69 means that a small denomination coin deposited into the apparatus has not been distributed into the corresponding second way 11 or a wrong coin has been distributed into the way 11. The INHIBIT-gate 71 modifies the signal SS into the signal 61, and prevents the entrained coin from being wrongly sorted. Namely, when the sensor 4 detects two coins and generates the first and second pulses during the duration of output signal S62, the secondly appearing pulse is neglected by the INHIBIT-gate 71, and only the first coin causes the gate 70 to generate one output pulse signal.

Just as in the above operation, the second and third logic circuits, respectively, generate output signals, meaning that medium and large denomination coins have successfully been distributed, or output signals meaning that the apparatus of Fig. 1 has erroneously distributed a coin. The output signals from the second and third logic circuits are applied to the circuits 72 and 73.

These output signals are generated directly or indirectly in response to denomination signals from the sensor 4 and detection signals from coin detectors 1 6, 1 7 and 18. Thus, the circuits 72 and 73 each generates an output signal indicating whether the apparatus of Fig. 1 has wrongly sorted a coin deposited into the apparatus or a coin has been caught up partway within the apparatus. The distribution error control circuit 72 may further be connected to a driving circuit means for driving a distributing member 35 and a conveyor 36 to transport coins stored in the retaining device 34 toward the receptacle 37.

Namely, when the apparatus has wrongly sorted a coin deposited into the apparatus, all coins temporarily stored in the device 34 may be returned to the depositor. In the present embodiment, the time points (tl) where the respective shutters should move to their distributing positions are predetermined in accordance with the distances between the sensor 4 and the respective shutters so that the shutters may be in the position to distribute the corresponding coins timely. If there exists an immediately preceding coin between the sensor 4 and shutter 23 when the sensor 4 has sensed a large denomination coin, the preceding coin will be guided to the receptacle 37, since the shutter 23 will be in its distributing position only when the large denomination coin has approached to the shutter 23.It will be understood from the above description that any false coin or any denomination coin other than the predetermined denomination coins are eventually returned to the receptacle 37. The shutters are adapted to return to their original positions on arrival of second time points (t2) or on appearance of the coin detection signals (S16 .. .) whichever comes first, so that the shutters may prevent any immediately subsequent coins from being distributed toward the second coin ways. The logic circuit 600 may be modified into a simpler circuit if desired.

As another embodiment of the present invention, the coin sorting apparatus of Fig. 1 further may include a counting circuit which is connected to the sensor 4 and coin detectors 16, 1 7, 18 and 1 9. The counting circuit counts the number of deposited coins in response to the signals from the sensor 4 or the detector 8 and the total number of coins passing through the ways 11,12, 13 and 14, and compares the total number with the deposit number. If the counting circuit is designed to generate a warning signal when the deposited coin count is not equal to the total coin count, the apparatus generates a warning signal to inform maintenance personnel that some deposited coins have been caught up partway within the apparatus.

In the above embodiments, the predetermined denomination criteria are small, medium, and large denominations. Alternatively, a iarger or lesser number of denomination criteria may be predetermined. The first coin way 10 is vertically disposed, but the coin way and shutters may be slantly disposed. The second coin ways should then be disposed so as to receive coins from the slant shutters. Moreover, the shutters, reversally, may be driven so that ali shutters normally close the first coin way and, in response to a denomination signal, the shutters except the corresponding shutter move out of the first coin way.

It should be understood that the above description is merely illustrative of the present invention and that many changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the

Claims (11)

appended claims. CLAIMS

1. Electronic coin sorting apparatus comprising an electronic denomination checker capable of sensing each coin deposited into the apparatus against a predetermined set of denomination criteria, generating a denomination signal corresponding to the denomination of said coin, and dispensing the coin downwards, a first coin way disposed below said denomination checker for guiding the dispensed coin downwards, a plurality of shutters respectively corresponding to said denomination criteria and so disposed as to come into discrete positions along the length of said first coin way to distribute the coin in correspondence with the sensed denomination of the coin, a plurality of second coin ways connected with said first coin ways at said discrete positions for receiving and guiding the coin further into a predetermined position within the apparatus, said second coin ways respectively corresponding to said shutters, and a plurality of coin detectors respectively disposed in said second coin ways, each detector being adapted to detect any coin that may be present in the corresponding second coin way and to generate a coin detection signal.

2. Electronic coin sorting apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein each of said second coin ways is dimensioned so as to roughly fit coins of the corresponding denomination.

3. Electronic coin sorting apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein each of said shutters is an upwardly curved plate which is movable in a horizontal direction.

4. Electronic coin sorting apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said electronic denomination checker includes, adjacent to said first coin way, a buffer member for absorbing the dynamic shock of coins deposited into said apparatus.

5. Electronic coin sorting apparatus according to Claim 1 further comprising shutter reset means adapted to operate in response to said coin detection signal for resetting the shutter or shutters moved in response to said denomination signal.

6. Electronic coin sorting apparatus according to Claim 1 further comprising time setting means for presetting a first time point wherein some of said shutters corresponding to said denomination signal should move to a distributing position from an original position thereof after said denomination signal has been generated, and a second time point wherein said some of shutters should return to said original position from said distributing position, said first and second time points being preset for each of said shutters.

7. Electronic coin sorting apparatus according to Claim 6 further comprising shutter driving means for moving said some of shutters into said distributing position when said first time point has arrived, and for returning said some of shutters into said original position on arrival of said second time point or on appearance of said coin detection signal, whichever comes first.

8. Electronic coin sorting apparatus according to Claim 1 further comprising logic circuit means for receiving said denomination signal and said coin detection signal and for generating an output signal indicating whether the apparatus has wrongly sorted a coin deposited into the apparatus or a coin has been caught up partway within the apparatus.

9. Electronic coin sorting apparatus according to Claim 1 further comprising entry coin detecting means for detecting coins deposited into the apparatus, and stopping means for retaining any coin that may be subsequentiy deposited for a predetermined time period after said detecting means has detected a preceding coin.

1 0. Electronic coin sorting apparatus according to Claim 1 further comprising stopping means for retaining coins for a predetermined time period in front of said denomination checker, and resetting means for releasing unlocking said stopping means; from stopping said coins in response to said coin detection signal from any of said coin detectors.

11. Electronic coin sorting apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said shutters are normally open, and when said denomination signal is generated, only selected one of said shutters corresponding to said denomination signal moves to a distributing position and the other shutters remain in original position.

1 2. Electronic coin sorting apparatus according to Claim 8 further comprising dispensing means in response to said output signal from the logic circuit means for outwardly dispensing said deposited coin from said apparatus.