JP2000242820A - Large-capacity coin hopper - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make greatly improvable the storage capacity of a disk body discharging device for disk bodies such as coins and medals by providing a conveyor means which is disposed in a case means and conveys coins from a 2nd tank means to a 1st tank means. SOLUTION: Coins in the 1st tank 36 are discharged from an exit chute. In the 2nd large tank 17, on the other hand, many coins are left up to the height of an opening 52. The number of coins in the 1st tank 36 decreases and the load on a rotary disk 35 is reduced. At this time, the reduction of the load is detected by, for example, a current sensor and an electric motor 62 is driven. A belt type conveyor device 61 is therefore rotated, e.g. counterclockwise. The coins left in the 2nd tank 71 are raked up by projection plates 66 and conveyed into the opening 52. Consequently, the 1st and 2nd tanks which communicate with each other are able to store many coins.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hopper device for forcibly sending out inserted coins in a bulk state one by one. More particularly, the present invention relates to a small disk hopper device capable of sending out medals and tokens used in a game machine one by one. More specifically, the present invention relates to a large-capacity coin hopper suitable for a game machine using a large number of medals and tokens. It should be noted that the term “disc” used in the present specification includes, of course, disc-shaped coins as currency.

[0002] The term "coin" as used herein is also used.
Not only includes currency but also medals and tokens used in games and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art Various types of disk hopper devices have been developed. For example, Japanese Patent Application No. 59-022825 filed by the present applicant discloses a disc-shaped coin feeding device. The Japanese Patent Application No. 59-02
No. 2825 has been published as an application in Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-45588. Japanese Patent Application No. 59-022825 is patented by U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,433.

FIG. 9 is an overall perspective view for schematically explaining the coin payout apparatus. The apparatus is provided with a circular base plate 2 which is provided upright and inclined with respect to the horizontal. A pot-shaped tank 5 for storing coins to be sent out is attached to the base plate 2. Further, a rotating disk 6 is provided in the tank 5.
Is provided. The rotating disk 6 is rotated about a rotation axis in a state of standing upright and inclined with respect to the horizontal. The rotating disk 6 has a disk-shaped base 9 on the upper surface at the center.

[0004] The rotating disk 6 is provided with a plurality of coin feeding pins 8 arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral portion 6a.
have. The apparatus has a plurality of bearing balls (not shown) inserted between the outer peripheral portion 6a of the rotating disk 6 and the base plate 2. These balls constitute a bearing device that rotatably supports the outer peripheral portion 6a of the rotating disk 6 on the base plate 2. Further, the device has a tip 10 above the outer peripheral edge 9 a of the base 9.
1 has an outlet knife 10 provided so as to be in contact with a.
The exit knife 10 receives the coin C picked up by the upper edge 10b and discharges it to the exit chute 11.

A device 15 for stirring the coins in the hopper 5 is provided at the center of the base 9. A roller 13 is disposed above the exit knife 10 so as to face the exit knife 10. That is, the roller 13 is pivoted upside down U
It is rotatably attached to a letter-shaped operating arm 12. The operating arm 12 is urged by a spring of a switch (not shown) for counting coins, for example. Therefore, when the coin C passes through the upper exit portion 7, the counting of the coin C is performed.

In other words, the coin C passing through the roller 1
By pushing up 3 against a spring (not shown), a coin counting switch is activated. The oval 14 shown in the upper part of FIG. 9 is a wiper. This wiper 14
Prevents the coin C from being sent to the upper exit portion 7 in an overlapping state. 17 is a spring plate. The spring plate 17 is for pressing the wiper 14 against a peripheral wall surrounding the rotary disk 6, that is, a hood 19.
Reference numeral 1 shown at the bottom of FIG. 9 is a mounting frame. The frame 1 is for mounting the device at a predetermined position such as a money changer or a medal changer with a base B interposed therebetween.

In the above-described coin processing apparatus, a base 9 corresponding to the size of the coin C to be handled is provided at the center of the rotating disk 6. Further, a plurality of coin feeding pins 8 are protrudingly provided on the outer periphery of the rotary disk 6 respectively. As a result, a pocket for the coin C is formed by the base 9 and the pin 8. Thus, when the rotating disk 6 is rotated in the hopper 5, one coin C in the hopper 5 is picked up in each pocket. The coins C picked up one by one are sent to the upper exit section 7 and sent to the exit chute 11 via the exit knife 10.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, the above-mentioned hopper device has a problem because coins, which are small discs, can be paid out continuously at a high speed. In other words, the coin discharging device has a problem that the payout of the coin ends immediately because the capacity of the tank is small in spite of the high speed.
Particularly, in a game machine using a large number of medals, there is a problem that the medals run out during play and the fun of the game is spoiled. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been developed for the purpose of greatly improving the capacity of accommodating a disc in a disc ejecting apparatus for coins and medals. In other words, the present invention has been developed for the purpose of greatly reducing the number of times of replenishment of a disk in a disk hopper device such as a coin or a token.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a first tank means for coins having a substantially cylindrical shape, an axis of which is obliquely disposed, and a coin outlet formed therein, A coin hopper provided with a coin discharging means disposed upright and inclined and rotatably disposed in the means, at least a case means communicating with the first tank means, and a large pot-shaped A second tank means for coins arranged in communication with the case means, and a conveyor means arranged in the case means for conveying coins from the second tank means to the first tank means, This is a large-capacity coin hopper characterized by having a coin hopper.

[0010] The present invention is also a large-capacity coin hopper, wherein the conveyor means is a belt conveyor. The present invention is also a large-capacity coin hopper, wherein the conveyor means is a chain conveyor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1 as viewed from the side. FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2 as viewed from above. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a front view of FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a part of FIG. FIG. 7 is a front view of FIG. FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view showing an essential part of FIG. Reference numeral 31 shown in the lower right part of FIG. 1 is a rectangular base plate. The base plate 31 is horizontally installed, for example, in a game machine using coins. The two large and small triangular frames 32 are fixed to the left and right ends of the base plate 31, respectively. A substantially circular base plate 33 is fixed to the large and small frames 32 in a slightly inclined upright state.

A substantially ring-shaped hood 34 is fixed to the outer periphery of the base plate 33 (see FIG. 2). In the hood 34, there is a rotating disk 3 for feeding coins.
5 is rotatably stored. Further, a substantially cylindrical tank 36 is attached to the ring-shaped hood 34 (see FIG. 2). The configuration described above is substantially the same as that of the conventional example shown in FIG. 9, and therefore, a more detailed description is omitted here. The base plate 2 in FIG. 9 corresponds to the base plate 33. Further, the hood 19 in FIG. 9 corresponds to the hood 34.

The rotary disk 6 in FIG. 9 corresponds to the rotary disk 35. The tank 5 in FIG.
It corresponds to. The table 9 in FIG. 9 corresponds to the table 37 (see FIG. 6). The pin 8 in FIG. 9 corresponds to the pin 27 (see FIG. 6). Further, the stirring device 1 shown in FIG.
5 corresponds to the stirring device 39 (see FIG. 3). Further, the exit chute 11 in FIG. 9 corresponds to the exit chute 41. Further, the arm 12 of the roller 13 in FIG. The large shallow box-shaped one shown in FIG. 6 is a case 51 for housing the device. This case 51 is made of a resin molded product or a metal molded product. A semicircular opening 52 is formed in the upper bottom of the case 51.

At the bottom rear surface of the case 51, a mounting tubular portion 53 slightly surrounding the opening 52 protrudes (see FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 2, the cylindrical portion 53 is inserted into the cylindrical tank 36 and screwed 54, that is, the case 51 is fixed to the tank 36 via the cylindrical portion 53. A rail 55 that largely surrounds the opening 52 is formed in a substantially circular ring shape on the bottom surface of the case 51 (see FIG. 6). The rail 55 guides a belt-type conveyor device 61 described later (see FIG. 4). At the bottom right of the bottom of the large box case 51, a small circular box portion 56 is formed.

The electric motor 6 is inserted into the box 56 from the outside.
2 are housed and screwed (not shown). The drive shaft of the electric motor 62 is rotatably projected into the case 51. A gear 63 is fixed to the protruding drive shaft. Further, a gear 64 meshing with the gear 63
Are pivoted to the box 56 (see FIG. 4). At each corner of the case 51, an attachment nut 57 is formed. In addition, a pair of leg portions 59 is formed at a lower portion of the case 51 so as to protrude. 1 is a tank 71 for storing a large amount of coins.

The second large tank 71 is also made of a resin molded product or a metal molded product. A substantially rectangular opening 72 is formed in a lower part of one peripheral wall of the tank 71. A mounting plate 73 is provided on the peripheral wall forming the opening 72.
Are formed to protrude. The one peripheral wall where the opening 72 is formed and the plate portion 73 serve as a cover plate of the case 51. The peripheral wall and the plate portion 73 are attached to the case 51 by the nut portion 57.
Is screwed 74 (see FIG. 1). That is, the tank 71 is fixed to the case 51 with the peripheral wall and the plate 73 interposed therebetween. A rail 75 that largely surrounds the opening 72 of the tank 71 is formed in a substantially circular ring shape on the back surface of the one peripheral wall (see a chain line in FIG. 1).

The rail 75 is paired with the rail 55 of the case 51 described above. The pair of rails 55 and 75 are for guiding the belt type conveyor device 61. The caterpillar belt type conveyor device 61 is made of a resin molded product or a metal molded product. FIG. 8 shows a part of the conveyor device 61 in an enlarged manner. The belt-type conveyor device 61 includes a plurality of small rectangular plates 6.
Reference numeral 9 denotes an endless belt formed by pivot 60. A rack 67 that meshes with the gear 64 is formed on the back surface of the rectangular plate 69. A protruding plate 66 is formed on the surface of the plurality of rectangular plates 69 among the plurality of rectangular plates 69.

As shown in FIG. 4, the belt type conveyor device 61 has one end of each pivot 60,
Is slidably inserted into the rail 55. Then, a large hopper 71 is attached as a lid of the case 51. At this time, each pivot 60 of the belt-type conveyor device 61
Are slidably inserted into the rails 75, respectively (see FIG. 1). Therefore, the belt type conveyor device 61 is slidably disposed between the pair of rails 55 and 75.

In this embodiment having the above-described structure, a large number of coins (not shown) are inserted into a large second tank 71 and stored in a bulk state.

Therefore, a part of the large number of coins
And 52 into the first tank 36.
In addition, a part of the large amount of coins inserted into the second tank 71 is stored up to the height of the opening 52. Thus, when the electric motor (not shown) of the rotating disk 35 is driven, the rotating disk 35 is rotated counterclockwise. As a result, coins in the first tank 36 are picked up one by one by each pocket of the rotating disk 35. As described above, a pocket for holding coins is formed by the base 37 and the pins 27 protruding from the surface of the rotating disk 35.

The coins picked up one by one are sent to the upper part and exit chutes 41 through an exit knife (not shown).
Will be sent out. As described above, the coins in the first tank 34 are discharged from the outlet chute 41. On the other hand, many coins are left in the second large tank 71 up to the height of the opening 52. The amount of coins in the first tank 36 decreases and the rotating disc 3
5 is reduced. At this time, the reduction of the load is detected by a sensor (not shown) such as a current, and the electric motor 62 is driven. Therefore, the belt-type conveyor device 61 is rotated, for example, counterclockwise.

The coins remaining in the second tank 71 are scraped up by the plurality of protruding plates 66 and conveyed into the opening 52. The coin conveyed into the opening 52 falls into the first tank 36. Since coins are added to the first tank 36 in this manner, coin ejection by the rotating disk 35 is continued without interruption. It is needless to say that the electric motor 62 may be stopped at a certain time after being driven, for example. Further, in the embodiment, the conveyor device 61 is a caterpillar type belt conveyor, but it is needless to say that another belt conveyor may be used.

For example, it is a matter of course that the endless rubber belt, leather belt or cloth belt may be improved and the guide rail of the belt may be widened. Of course, an endless metal belt, a plastic belt, or a chain-type belt may be modified and used. Although not shown, the conveyor device 61 may of course be a chain conveyor. In this case, gear 6
Of course, sprockets are used instead of 3 and 64. Although not shown, the conveyor device 61
May of course be a bucket conveyor.

In this case, it is needless to say that each of the buckets is inverted at the upper position and the coin is dropped. In addition, although the coin-raising means of the belt-type conveyor device 61 is the protruding plate 66, it is needless to say that other shapes may be used. For example, a spoon or a small pot may be used in place of the veneer 66. In addition, each opening 72 and 5
Needless to say, the size and position of 2 are optimally determined in consideration of the conveyor device 61. In other words, the size and position of each opening 72 and 52 are
It is needless to say that it is determined in consideration of the direction in which the coin falls due to the above.

The rotary disk 35 having the base 37 and the pins 27 has been described. However, a rotary disk (not shown) having a hole for taking in coins may be used.

According to the present invention as described above, a second tank is further added to the first tank, and a conveyor means is provided from the second tank to the first tank. This allows the communicating first and second tanks to accommodate a large amount of coins. In addition, since the coins remaining in the second tank can be transferred to the first tank by the conveyor means, a great effect that a large amount of coins can all be used is obtained.
Therefore, a great advantage is obtained that the interest of the game itself can be maintained without running out of coins even in a game machine using a large amount of coins.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1 viewed from a side.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2 as viewed from above.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of FIG. 1 with a part removed;

FIG. 5 is a front view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a part of FIG. 4 with a part removed;

FIG. 7 is a front view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view showing a main part of FIG. 4 taken out therefrom.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 First tank means 34: food, 36: hopper 41: coin exit chute, coin discharge means 27: pin, 35: rotating disk 37: base, case means 51 : Case, 52: Opening, 53: Cylindrical part, Second tank means ... 71: Hopper, 72: Opening, Conveyor means ... 55: Rail, 61: Belt type conveyor device, 62: Electric motor, 63: Gear, 64: Gear, 66: Veneer, 67: Rack, 69: Rectangular plate, 75: Rail.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A first tank means for coins having a substantially cylindrical shape, the axis of which is obliquely arranged, and an outlet for coins formed therein; At least a coin hopper provided with rotatable coin discharging means, at least a case means communicating with the first tank means, and a large pot-shaped and arranged in communication with the case means. A second tank means for coins, and a conveyor means disposed in the case means for transporting coins from the second tank means to the first tank means. Large capacity coin hopper. 2. The large-capacity coin hopper according to claim 1, wherein said conveyor means is a belt conveyor. 3. A large capacity coin hopper according to claim 1, wherein said conveyor means is a chain conveyor.