Disc sorting apparatus and method

DETAILED DESCRIPTION What is claimed is: 1.
A disc sorting apparatus for sorting discs of different identities, the apparatus comprising: receiving means for receiving discs to be sorted; holding means for holding a plurality of groups of discs; conveying means for conveying the received discs from said receiving means to said holding means; sorting means including disc identifying means for detecting and identifying discs conveyed by said conveying means, and transfer means for transferring the conveyed and identified discs to said holding means and for putting discs of the same identity in the same group; and control means responsive to said disc identifying means to cause said conveying means to run at a low speed when said disc identifying means detects no discs in a period of time, or at a higher speed if discs are detected.
2.
A disc sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means causes said conveying means to run at one or more higher speeds dependent upon the number of discs detected by said disc identifying means in a period of time.
3.
A disc sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said conveying means is arranged to convey the discs serially.
4.
A disc sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said conveying means comprises an endless conveyor.
5.
A disc sorting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said receiving means comprises a hopper arranged adjacent to said endless conveyor and having an opening for receiving the discs.
6.
A disc sorting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said holding means holds the discs as a plurality of stacks and said transfer means stacks discs of the same identity in the same stack in said holding means.
7.
A disc sorting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said holding means is arranged to hold said stacks in a row adjacent said endless conveyor.
8.
A disc sorting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said transfer means transfers discs to the bottom of the stacks in said holding means.
9.
A disc sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said disc identifying means comprises an optical detection system for detecting the colour of at least a portion of the discs, wherein discs of different identities have different colours