A coin conditioner is provided for cleaning or otherwise conditioning coins in
a coin discriminator apparatus prior to transfer to a coin sensor. Coins enter
through a feed tray and move down the length of a perforated tumbler, preferably
without the use of gravity, such as under screw force, mechanical or centrifugal
force. The spinning tumbler is preferably rotated about its longitudinal axis by
a motor. In one embodiment, a blower or vacuum draws or moves air from one area
to another, with the air preferably being filtered. As coins move through and down
a tumbler, projections such as vanes, fins, ridges, dimples, spines or other raised
features cause mechanical agitation and/or abrasion as coins are lifted and dropped
while passing longitudinally through the tumbler. The coins are conditioned and
non-coin matter is collected as it is separated and/or abraded from the coin surfaces.
Tumbler perforations permit non-coin matter to pass through the perforations into
a collection tray or other apparatus and/or are collected into filter media as
a result of the air flow. In one embodiment, the air pressure system eliminates
or reduces the occurrence of low density or light non-coin matter, such as hair
or dust, and prevents these materials from settling or being carried through downstream
portions of the coin processing system.