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.