How a Coin Sorter Works

How a Coin Sorter Works
Written By
James Johnson
James Johnson
May 8, 2009
1 minute read
Change in a jar
A jar filled with coins. Image Credit: Comstock Images/Stockbyte/Getty Images

Sorting Coins By Size Standards

Standard coin sorting machines operate by feeding coins of different sizes into openings. In some cases, the top trays holes will be large enough to pass through all coins except for quarters, while the next tray will pass through all coins except for nickels and so on until each type of coin rests on a different tray

Measuring The Amount Of Coins Being Processed

After coins have been sorted, they are measured by the weight of the coins on each tray to determine value or simply by placing the coins in a rack that shows value based on height with markers next to the height of the coins to show how much they are worth.

Advanced Methods For Coin Counting

For a more reliable coin reading, many advanced machines use a chain of light along with photovoltaic cells to determine exactly what coins are passing through the machine, while some systems use microprocessors to read coins and send signals back to the system to ensure the coin sizes and weights match the coin being processed via the system.

James Johnson

James Johnson is a writer and a professional blogger who spends his time writing about a variety of technology, health and finance subjects. He is also the founder and operator of Indyposted, an online newspaper and blog that focuses on…

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