AU644228B2 - Coin supply device for coin-operated gaming machine - Google Patents

Description

1-644228 AUSTRAL IA PATENTS ACT 1990 C 0 M P L E T E S P EC I F I C A TIO N FOR A STANDARD PATENT O R IGI NA L S 0

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0 dgame of Applicant: Atual Inventor: Address for Service: goo* Inenin ite KABUSHIKI KAISHA UNIVERSAL Masaharu Shirasawa SHELSTON WATERS Clarence Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 "COIN SUPPLY DEVICE FOR COIN-OPERATED GAMING

MACHINE"

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000500 0 00 5* 00 The following statement is a full des,-ription of this invention, including the best method of performiIg it known to us:- COIN SUPPLY DEVICE FOR COIN-OPERATED GAMING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coin supply machine, more particularly to an apparatus for letting coins in a coinoperated gaming machine in order to play a game.

2. Description Relative to the Prior Art In a coin-operated gaming machine e.g. a slot machine, a coin including token must be inserted in a coin inlet before a game can be started. At least one coin is required for playing 0* one game. To increase prize-winning lines for the purpose of enlarging the probability of winning a prize, or to enlarge *0 *oe. odds for a dividend of a prize, two or three coins are C'e. inserted.

In a conventional slot machine, it is necessary for the player to insert at least one coin manually coin by coin for each game, which is a highly laborious operation. For the 0 automation of letting coins in the slot machine, there has been proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2-57284 a see* 20 coin supply apparatus in which rather a great number of coins are puc in a coin containing portion at one time, and coins are fed one by one before eajh game. The coin put in the coin e containing portion of this coin supply apparatus is supplied to a hopper device, which is actuated before one game is played.

The coin fed from this hopper device is detected by a sensor, and enters a hopper apparatus provided for pay-out. The slot machine is thereby in a state in which the coin is substantially let in the slot machine.

However, the hopper device of the coin supply apparatus described in the above document includes a revolution body having recesses formed on its circumference for receiving the respective coins in order to feed them successively. There is still a problem in which this coin supply apparatus is obliged to be large in size.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a coin supply device of rather a small size.

In order to achieve the above and other objects and advantages of this invention, a coin supply device comprises: a coin containing portion for manually putting therein a plurality of coins; a first transport S.:.belt connected round a first downstream roller and a 20 second upstream roller for transporting the coins supplied from the coin containing portion; a first 0 lateral guide wall provided along a direction of transport of the first transport belt substantially upright relative to the first transport belt for defining 25 a direction of movement of the supplied coins; and a 44* separating roller provided close to the first transport belt to form a spacing therewith to satisfy T<D<2T wherein T is the thickness of a coin of a predetermined kind and D is the thickness of the spacing, said spacing allowing passage of the lowest coin of the supplied coins which overlay each other on the first transport belt and pushing back coins overlaying the lowest coin. All the coins as put in the coin supply device according to the present invention can be fed successively to the slot machine. The size of the coin supply device can be smaller than that of a convention coin supply device.

In a preferred embodiment, a second transport belt is disposed to be downstream from the first transport belt for receiving and transporting the coins fed one by one through the spacing. second transport belt is driven at a speed higher than the first transport belt in order to enlarge intervals of the coins supplied from the first transport belt.

*o *9 BRIEF DESCRIPTION IF THE DRAWINGS The above objects and tLdvantages of the present 20 invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: '060 Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a slot machine incorporating a coin supply device in accordance 6 25 with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic view illustrating the coin supply device illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section view illustrating an important portion of the coin supply device illustrated in Fig. 1; Figs. 4 to 8 are explanatory views illustrating an operation of two transport belts, and a separating roller of the coin supply device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION In Fig. 1, which shows a slot machine incorporating a coin supply device of the present invention, the slot machine 2 is provided with a front door 3 openable with respect to a main o o body of the slot machine 2. This front door 3 is provided with a start button 4, stop buttons 5 to 7, and a coin containing portion 8 capable of receiving at once rather a great number of coins 16 put therein, coin number specifying buttons 9 to 11, and a returning button 12 for paying out the coins 16 as put in. Inside the coin containing portion 8 and under the opening 8a formed within the coin containing portion 8, the coin supply Ooo** 0 device 13 according to the present invention is disposed, later to be described in detail. Two coin passageways or coin chutes 20 1 4 and 15 are connected to the downstream position of the coin supply device 13, as is indicated by the broken line in the drawings. The lower parts of the coin chutes 14 and 15 extend S* to a hopper apparatus 17 and a coin saucer 18 respectively.

A front panel 20 is mounted on an upper part of the door 3 above the stop buttons 5 to 7. Three reels 21 to 23 are rotatably disposed on a rear side of the front panel 20, and start rotating by operating the start button 4 after supplying coins to be played. Each reel 21 to 23 bears on its periphery various symbols such as "orange" and "BAR". These symbols can be observed through three windows 24 to 26 formed in the front panel 20. A plurality of prize-winning lines 27 traverse the respective windows 24 to 26. The number of the effective lines is increased when a greater number of coins are played.

While the respective reels 21 to 23 are rotating, the stop buttons 5 to 7 can be actuated after the reels have reached a steady speed of rotation. When the stop buttons 5 to 7 are actuated at desired time intervals, stop control is initiated 0 0 to stop the respective reels 21 to 23, whereupon a symbol combination corresponding to a timing of operating the stop buttons 5 to 7 is displayed on the effective prize-winning line "0 15 27. However, if the symbol combination that stops on the i* effective prize-winning line 27 is a prize-winning symbol combination, the number of coins corresponding to the prizewinning rank of that combination are paid out of the hopper apparatus 17 into the coin saucer 18. In case no buttons have •20 been actuated within a predetermined period of time, the respective reels 21 to 23 are sequentially stopped by an •automatic stop mechanism known per se.

Referring to Fig. 2 illustrating the coin supply device 13, a first transport belt 30 is disposed below the opening 8a 25 within the coin containing portion 8 as indicated by the chain line for transporting coins 16 as put in in a state of laying them thereon. In a location downstream from the first belt a second transport belt is arranged and driven at a transport speed higher than the first belt 30. On the upper surfaces of the first and second belts 30 and 31, a pair of parallel guide walls 32 and 33 are provided to be oblique relative to the transport direction of the belts 30 and 31. The two belts and 31 are so disposed that a lateral edge of the side of the guide wall 32 is placed lower than that of the side of the guide wall 33. The guide wall 32 is thus in contact with the coins 16 fed by the belts 30 and 31'. A partition wall 34 is formed on the rear ends of the walls 32 and 33. The walls 32 and 33, the partition wall 34 and a partition wall 48 later to I be described define together a space where coins 16 to be 4S supplied are received and reserved over the first belt The first belt 30 is connected round a drive roller 35 and 15 a follower roller 36, and is rotated in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2. The second belt 31 is connected round a drive roller 37 and a follower roller 38 for rotating in the direction of the arrow. The drive rollers 35 and 37 are driven ,Y by a motor 41 via a timing belt 40 which is regulated as to 20 tension by a pulley 39. The motor 41 is controlled via a driver 42 by a microcomputer 43 for controlling the coin supply o* device 13.

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A shaft 46 is disposed above the drive roller 35 to be rotated above the drive roller 35 to be rotated via a belt 25 in the rotary direction the same as the drive roller 35, or opposite to the direction of transporting the coins 16, and is supported by the walls 32 and 33 in parallel with the drive roller 35. A separating roller 47 is fixed on the shaft 46 between the guide walls 32 and 33, and separates the overlapping coins 16 one by one by pushing upper coins in the direction opposite to transport.

The separating roller 47 is constituted by roller cylinders 47c of a smaller diameter and a sic'e roller portion 47e of a larger diameter. Two annular grooves 47a and 47b are formed between and beside the roller cylinders 47c around the shaft 46 at an interval smaller than the diameter of a predetermined kind of coin. The interval between the surface of the roller cylinders 47c and that of the first belt 30 is determined to be larger than the thickness of the predetermined S 'coin and smaller than the double of its thickness, so that the 0 lowest coin transported under the roller cylinders 47c can be 15 passed through the spacing defined thereby. The interval between the surface of the side roller portion 47e and that of the first belt 30 is smaller than the thickness of the predetermined coin, so that any lower coin in contact with the side roller portion 47e is returned by rotation of the side 20 roller portion 47e. The interval between the guide wall 32 and the side roller portion 47e is below the double of the diameter *be.

of the predetermined coin so as to allow passage of a single 0 coin at one time under the roller cylinders 47c.

A partition wall 48 is provided above the separating 25 roller 47 (see Fig. Projections 48a and 48b are formed on the lower edge of the partition wall 48 to be fitted in the grooves 47a and 47b, and prevent the coins 16 from advancing between the partition wall 48 and the separating roller 47 which in this position turns in the direction of pulling the coins 16. A guide portion 50 is formed on the lower edge of the wall 33 al Lig the transport direction, and is provided with an inclined surface on its upper side, which causes the coins 1 6 situated on the guide portion 50 to slide toward the guide wall 32 until the surface of the first belt A magnetic sensor 55 is disposed above the second belt 31 for detecting the coins 16 one by one as illustrated in Fig. 2, and held on the guide wall 32 via a sensor holder 56. Between the sensor holder 56 and the separating roller 47, there is disposed a nip roller 57 for being rotated by the shaft 46 via ;a gear. The nip roller 57 presses the coins 16 against the c* second belt 31 so as to prevent the coins 1 6 from contact with 15 the sensor holder 56 (see Figs. 7 and The magnetic sensor 55 is connected to a judging circuit 58 and outputs a detecting current corresponding to a diameter of a coin as detected. The judging circuit 58 A/D converts the detecting current as a digita', signal, and compares the digital signal with a model 20 signal written in a ROM 59. If the digital signal is equal to the model signal, then the judging circuit 58 supplies the S microcomputer 43 with a RIGHT signal representing coincidence with a genuine coin or the predetermined kind. If the digital signal is different therefrom, then a WRONG signal is supplied 25 representing a false coin or a different kind. It is noted that a photosensor of a reflection type may be used for detecting the coins 16 instead of the magnetic sensor 55 of the present embodiment, Two passage plates 14a and 1 5c are positioned in positions downstream from the second belt 31, and constitute bottom surfaces of the coin chutes 14 and 15, through which the coins 16 are -lid on the passage plate 14a or 15a and is passed down to :he hopper apparatus 17 or the coin saucer 18. For selection of the coin chutes 14 and 15, a swingable guide plate 61 is swung by a solenoid 60 and is changed over. The solenoid is connected to the microcomputer 43 via a driver 62, and is driven thereby when a WRONG signal is outputted. The solenoid 60 is stopped by the microcomputer 43 from being driven when a RIGHT signal is outputted or at a lapse of a predetermined period.

There are signal generators 70 and 71, a subtractive 0 counter 73 and a driver 74 each connected to the microcomputer 43. The coin number specifying buttons 9 to 11 are provided on the signal generator 70 for specifying one number of coins to be played in one game, as one, two or three coins respectively.

o The signal generator 70 supplies the microcomputer 43 with a 20 coin number specifying signal corresponding to one of the buttons 9 to 11. The coin number specifying signal is supplied to the counter 73 via the microcomputer 43 so as to set the 0 "corresponding number of the coins to be played in the counter 73. The count of the counter 73 is decr-mented by one upon each RIGHT sigrnal supplied from the judging circuit 58. Upon each decrement of the counter 73, the one coin as detected of the predetermined kind is run down on the passage plate 14a of the coin chute 14 toward the hopper apparatus 17. If a WRONG signal is supplied, no decrement is effected in the counter 73, whereas the coin as detected is run down on the passage plate of the coin chute 15 toward the coin saucer 18, because the solenoid 60 is driven upon the WRONG signal to swing the swingable plate 61. When the number of coins to be played in the counter 73 becomes "zero" after repeating decrement of the count then the microcomputer 43 stops the motoe 41 from being driven. One as counted finally of the coins 16 of the specified number -is kept still on the second belt 31 without

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advancing to the hopper apparatus 17.

The slot machine 2 takes a state of standing by for the start of a game upon detecting the number of coins 0 e 0 corresponding to the pressed one of the coin number specifying 15 buttons 9 to 11 by means of the magnetic sensor 55. The final one coin is left as such while playing one game including an operation of the start button 4, rotation and standstill of the Sreels 21 to 23, and the payment of a prize. The unmoved coin is fed to the hopper apparatus 17 on the passage plate 14a, 20 first upon performing the following operation, i.e. for playing another game or for terminating games by pressing the returning button 12.

The signal generator 71 is connected to the returning button 12 for supplying the microcomputer 43 with a returning signal. The microcomputer 43 sets the judging circuit 58 so as to output a WRONG signal upon receiving every detecting current, drives the motor 41, and allows the above one coin left on the second belt 31 to run down to the hopper apparatus 17. Then, the judging circuit 58 supplies the microcomputer 43 with a WRONG signal for a respective detecting current from the magnetic sensor 55. All the coins as put in the coin containing portion 8 are returned one after another to the coin saucer 18 through the coin chute 15. When the coin containing portion 8 is emptied, the magnetic sensor 55 supplies no detecting current so that no WRONG signal is supplied from the detecting circuit 58. At a lapse of a predetermined period in this state, the microcomputer 43 resets the swingable plate 61 and the detecting circuit 58, stops the motor 1 4 from being driven, and terminates a control of returning coins. If the o returning button 12 is pressed immediately after pressing the *0 coin number specifying buttons 9 to 11, the microcomputer 43 effects not only the above coin returning control but also an extra control of returning coins correspondirng to the specified number from the hopper apparatus 17 tr the coin saucer 18.

0 0 0The operation of the coin supply device in accordance with the present invention will be described next referring to Figs.

20 4 to 7. The coins 16 as put in the coin containing portion 8 •are placed on the firsi belt 30 and lap one over another.

Upon pressing the coin number specifying button 11 for *o three coins for example, the motor 41 is driven to drive the drive rollers 35 and 37 via the timing belt 40. Therefore, both transport belts 30 and 31 are moved in the directic.' of the arrows. Because the first belt 30 is inclined, upper coins of the lapping coins 16 as put in are slipped on lower coins toward the guide wall 32, so that some of them will be reliably in contact with the guide wall 32 as illustrated in Fig. 2 in a state of lying rn the belt 30. Even when the coins 16 fail to slide down toward the guide wall 32, due to friction between the coins 16 and the belt 30, the coins 16 are brought in contact with, and guided by, the guide wall 32 during a transport till the separating roller 47., because the guide wall 32 is formed to be oblique relative to the transport direction.

The drive roller 35 transmits rotation to the separating roller 10 47 via the belt 45 for the counterclockwise direction, and to the nip roller 57 via the gear for the clockwise direction.

0 When three coins 16a to 16c lapping together are cransported near to the separating roller 47 on the first belt 30 as illustrated in Fig. 4, the upper two coins 16b and 16c 0 are in contact with the roller cylinders 47c and pushed back as illustrated in Fig. 5. The lowest coin 16a is in no contact with the roller cylinders 47c and is advanced thereunder by the first belt

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o When the rear end of the coin 16a is moved to the position 20 below the separating roller 47, the second lowest coin 16b is slipped down from the upper surface of the lowest coin 16a as illustrated in Fig. 6. The front end of the coin 16a is at this moment in contact with the surface of the second belt 31, and pressed by the nip roller 57 against the second belt 31.

The coin 16a in transport on the second belt 31 is kept from contact with the sensor holder 56 as illustrated in Fig. 7 and passes below it. The coins 16 in transport on the second belt 12 31 passes exactly below the magnetic sensor 55, due to the inclination of the guide wall 32 relative to the second belt 31. The second belt 31 is moved at the speed higher than the first belt 31, so that it is possible to enlarge intervals of coins 16 in line as illustrated in Fig. 8. The magnetic sensor thus can detect the individual coins 16.

Although the coin supply device 13 incorporated in the slot machine 2 is described according to the above embodiment, the coin supply device may be also applied in other gaming machines, a vending machine, 'or a coin-operated machine of any kind.

Although the present invention has been fully described by way of the preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, various changes and modifications will be apparent to those having skill in this field. Therefore, unless otherwise these changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention, they should be construed as included therein.

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Claims (18)

1. A coin supply device for supplying a coin-operated machine with coins one by one, comprising: a coin containing portion for manually putting therein a plurality of coins; a first transport belt connected round a first downstream roller and a second upstream roller for transporting said coins supplied from said coin containing portion; a first lateral guide wall provided along a direction of transport of said first transport belt substantially upright relative to said first transport belt for defining a direction of movement of said supplied coins; and a separating roller provided close to said first 15 transport belt to form a spacing therewith to satisfy T<D<2T wherein T is the thickness of a coin of a *9tt predetermined kind and D is the thickness of the spacing, :said spacing allowing passage of the lowest coin of said supplied coins which overlay each other on said first 20 transport belt and pushing back coins overlaying said S lowest coin.

2. A coin supply device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said supplied coi s are transported on said first -transport belt in a state of lying thereon.

3. A coin supply device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said coin-operated machine is a slot machine, which incorporates said first transport belt, said first lateral guide wall and said separating roller, and on which said coin. containing portion is mounted externally.

4. A coin supply device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising guide means generally opposed to said first lateral guide wall for preventing two coins situated laterally relative to said transport direction from passing under said separating roller.

A coin supply device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said guide means is a side roller portion formed integrally with said separating roller.

6. A coin supply device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a second transport belt disposed downstream from said first transport belt for receiving and transporting said coins fed one by one through said spacing, said second transport belt being driven at a speed higher than said first transport belt in order to enlarge intervals of said coins supplied from said first transport belt.

7. A coin supply device as claimed in claim 6, further 20 comprising a motor and a drive belt driven by said motor for driving said first and second transport belts and :said separating roller.

8. A coin supply device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said drive belt is connected round said first downstream ro B 25 roller, which rotates drive said first transport belt.

9. A coin supply device as claimed in claim 4, wherein in use said first transport belt is inclined across its width in order to situate said coins against said first lateral guide wall.

10. A coin supply device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising: a partition wall provided close to said separating roller substantially over said separating roller at an interval smaller than T for preventing said coins from passing over said separating roller; at least one annular groove formed around said separating roller in an annular manner, a width of said annular groove in an axial direction being smaller than a diameter of said predetermined kind of coin; and at least one projecting portion formed on said partition wall for being received fittedly in said annular groove in order to prevent said coins in cooperation with said annular groove from advancing between said partition wall and said separating roller. 20

11. A coin supply device as claimed in claim wherein at least one roller cylinder defined beside said annular groove 6 on a surface of said separating roller has a width along said axial direction smaller than said diameter of said predetermined kind of coin.

12. A coin supply device as claimed in claim 11, further comprising: a sensor disposed over said second transport belt for supplying a signal corresponding to a coin passed thereunder; judging means for judging whether said passed coin is said predetermined kind in accordance with said coin signal received from said sensor; and changeover means for changing over a direction of feeding said passed coin transported by said second transport belt in @See l 0 accordance with a result of judgment in said judging means.

13. A coin supply device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said direction changeover means includes: a first coin chute disposed in a position downstream from said second transport belt for passing coins toward a hopper e*, apparatus of said slot machine; S. a second coin chute disposed in a position downstream from eo~e ,said second transport belt beside said first coin chute for •ew o• passing coins toward a coin outlet of said slot machine; a movable guide plate movable for passing said coin 10 transported by said second transport belt to either of said first and second coin chutes; and means for moving said movable plate in accordance with said judging result in said judging means so as to allow said coin passed under said sensor to enter said first coin chute 17 when corresponding to said predetermined kind and to allow said passed coin to enter said second coin chute when differing from said predetermined kind.

14. A coin supply device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising control means which counts coins judged by said judging means as said predetermined kind.

A coin supply device as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a plurality of manually operable coin number specifying switches providing corresponding to numbers of coins to be played in one game for being operated to specify said numbers of coins to be fed to said hopper apparatus at once, said control means controlling said movable plate and said first and said second transport belts in accordance with a coin number signal supplied from either of said coin number specifying switches in order to feed said specified number of coins to said hopper apparatus.

16. A coin supply device as claimed in claim further comprising a manually operable returning switch go S 20 for being operated to feed all said supplied coins to coin outlet, said control means controlling said movable plate and said first and second transport belts in accordance with a returning signal supplied from said returning switch. S 25

17. A coin supply device as claimed in claim 16, further comprising: a second lateral guide wall provided along said transport direction of said first transport belt substantially upright relative to said first transport belt; and a guide portion formed on said second wall to project toward said separating roller, said guide portion having an upper surface inclined in a degree larger than said inclination of said first transport belt in order to cause coins advancing to a position between said separating roller and said second wall to slip toward a position directly upstream from said separating roller.

18. A coin supply device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 22nd day of SEPTEMBER, 1993 KABUSHIKI KAISHA UNIVERSAL Attorney: PETER HEATHCOTE Fellow Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia of SHELSTON WATERS *0 '00V 00 0 *e 0 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A coin supply device (13) includes a transport belt and a separating roller (47) disposed above the transport belt An upper coin of two lapped coins are pushed back and separated by the separating roller (47) rotating in the direction opposite to that of the transport of the transport belt The remaining lower one coin is allowed to pass under the separating V. g* a roller and fed to a hopper apparatus (17) provided so for for pay-out after passing under a coin sensor A