JP2000354681A - Lending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide lending machines capable of recovering a prepaid card for every lending machine. SOLUTION: This lending machine is formed of a horizontal passage part 4 to provide a card passage 42 horizontally from a card insertion opening 2 and a rotating passage part 6. In the inside 65 of bending of a card passage 63 bent from the card outlet 41 of the horizontal passage part 4, a bent part is bent from a horizontal position to a vertical position, and the outside 67 of bending of the card passage 63 is curved outward and protruded. The rotating passage part 6 discharges a card transferred out from the horizontal passage part 4 from the lower opening 62. The lending device is also formed of a vertical passage part connected to the lower opening 62 of the rotating passage part 6 to form a passage part 73 of the same width as the lower opening 62, a card stacker located below the vertical passage part, and a card transferring means 51 provided for the horizontal passage part 4 to capture a card in the horizontal passage part 4 and to select and transfer the card insertion opening 2 or the card outlet 41 to discharge the card from at the input of a discharge signal to indicate a target opening of discharge of the card.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stand-to-stand lending machine, and more particularly to a card used in a stand-to-stand lending machine that lends a game medium such as a pachinko ball or a medal within a range stored in the card. And a lending machine for recovering vehicles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in the pachinko game lending of a pachinko ball, a pachinko ball lending is performed by issuing a prepaid card for pachinko ball lending and installing the prepaid card for each pachinko machine. A pachinko ball is inserted from the card insertion slot of the ball lending machine, information is read from the card by a card reader / writer provided in the tama ball lending machine, and pachinko balls are lent based on the information. Spinning-type gaming machines that use coins as game media also lend coins in the same manner. When the prepaid card was finished lending, the card was ejected from the inserted slot and returned to the user. The card in which the number of balls that can be lent is already “0” is returned by the user to the pachinko parlor, and the returned used card is re-written by the pachinko parlor with information about new balls to be lent. Was used. Similarly, when the number of balls that can be lent by the prepaid card becomes "0", the ball is returned to the user from the insertion slot.

[0003] However, in such a conventional method, the unpaid prepaid card is not effective for the user, so that the card removed from the insertion slot is carefully handled and a predetermined "card collection box" is used. "
There was a problem in that the card was left unreturned, was scattered in the hall, and had to collect used prepaid cards after closing the store. Also, in the case of a reusable recyclable prepaid card instead of a disposable prepaid card, there is a problem in that the used card is poorly handled and falls on the floor and cannot be reused. Accordingly, the applicant has collected the used cards from one side of the island of the pachinko hall in one place from the back of the island of the pachinko hall according to the previously-patented Japanese Patent Application No. 114296, and facilitated the collection of the used cards. Is provided without being returned to the user, so that the entire card can be reused.

[0004]

However, in the invention of the applicant of the present invention, Japanese Patent Application No. 114296,
There was a problem that the collection system became large-scale and the cost of introducing the system was high. In addition, since the installation is performed on the entire back side of the island, there is a problem that the installation cost and the installation time are required. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of these problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a lending machine capable of collecting a prepaid card for each lending machine with a reduced space and cost without dispersing used prepaid cards in a hall.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides a card insertion opening which is opened on the surface of a lending machine and is inserted from the short side of a rectangular card and the short side is inserted vertically, and one end of the card insertion opening. A card passage is provided horizontally from the card insertion slot to the inside of the lending machine, and a card passage is opened at the other end of the card passage through which the inserted card is sent out. A lower opening that is provided continuously to the delivery port and that opens downward at the other end is provided,
A card passage bent from the card outlet of the horizontal passage portion to the lower opening is provided between both ends, the inside of the bent of the card passage is bent from horizontal to vertical, the bent portion is formed by bending,
The bent outside of the card passage protrudes outwardly from the card outlet and lower opening of the horizontal passage and is formed by bending the rotating passage, and one end is connected to the lower opening of the rotating passage. A vertical passage portion having an end opened downward and forming a card passage portion, and a vertical passage portion provided at a lower end,
A card stacker capable of storing cards falling from the vertical passage portion, and a card provided in the horizontal passage portion, for taking a card inserted from the card insertion slot into the horizontal passage portion, and outputting a discharge signal for instructing a discharge destination of the taken-in card. The card is ejected from the card slot according to the instruction of the ejection signal when input,
Alternatively, there is provided a lending machine comprising card transport means for transporting a card by selecting whether to discharge the card from a card outlet in a horizontal passage portion.

The present invention has the following functions.
That is, a rectangular card is inserted from the card insertion opening opened on the lending machine surface with the short side up from the short side. When the inserted card is inserted into the horizontal passage portion provided horizontally inside the lending machine continuously with the card insertion slot, the inserted card is inserted into the card carrying means provided in the horizontal passage portion. Take in the horizontal passage.

When a discharge signal is input to the card transport means, the card transport means discharges the card according to the instruction of the discharge signal. That is, when the card conveying means is instructed to eject the card to the card insertion port side by the ejection signal, the card conveying means conveys the card taken in the horizontal passage portion to the card insertion side and returns it. Discharge from the card slot. When the card conveying means is instructed by the ejection signal to eject the card to the card exit side, the card conveying means conveys the card to the card exit side of the horizontal passage and ejects the card from the card exit to the rotary passage. . If the card is ejected from the card slot, it will be removed. When the card is ejected from the card outlet of the horizontal passage, the card is ejected to a rotary passage provided continuously to the card outlet. In the rotating passage portion, the card discharged from the horizontal passage portion is continuously moved to the front, that is, to the vertical passage portion side, from the bent portion inside the bent portion of the card passage provided by bending the rotating passage portion, When the discharge by the transport means is completed, the card starts to rotate downward by gravity with the bent portion provided as a fulcrum as a fulcrum. At this time, the upper part of the front end and the upper part of the rear end of the card protrude outward from the upper end and the lower opening of the card outlet, and are guided to the outside of the bend of the card path formed by bending. Then, the card is gradually turned downward, and is eventually taken in a vertical direction in which the long side of the card is directed vertically. The vertically oriented card is dropped from the lower opening of the rotary passage to the vertical passage provided continuously to the lower opening, guided by the vertical passage, and further discharged from the opening below the vertical passage. The card falling from the vertical passage is stored in a card stacker provided below the vertical passage.

[0008] Further, the present invention is opened on the rental machine surface,
A card insertion slot that is inserted from the short side of the rectangular card and the short side of the card is inserted vertically, the card insertion port is inserted horizontally into the lending machine, and the card insertion port is connected to the card insertion port. The lower part of the horizontal part is provided with a lower opening for dropping the captured card downward, the lower opening is provided with a shutter for opening and closing the opening, and a discharge signal for instructing a discharge destination of the captured card is provided. The card is ejected from the card slot according to the instruction of the ejection signal by being input, or
A horizontal passage portion provided with a card conveying means for conveying the card by selecting whether to eject the card from the lower opening with the shutter opened, and a horizontal passage portion located below the lower opening of the horizontal passage portion and at an upper end thereof A card inlet opening is provided at the lower opening side of the card passage, a lower end is opened below the horizontal passage portion, and a card passage bent from the card inlet to the lower opening is provided between both ends, and a bent inside of the card passage is provided. Is bent from horizontal to vertical, the bent portion is formed to be curved, and the bent outside of the card passage is projected outward from the lower opening, and the rotating passage portion formed by being bent, and one end is formed. A vertical passage portion connected to the lower opening of the rotation passage portion and having the other end opened downward, and a card stacker provided below the vertical passage portion and capable of storing a card dropped from the vertical passage portion. To Lending machine according to symptoms, to provide. The operation is as follows.

That is, a rectangular card is inserted from the card insertion slot opened on the surface of the lending machine with the short side up from the short side. The inserted card has the tip
When the card is inserted into the horizontal passage portion provided horizontally inside the lending machine continuously from the card insertion slot, the card carrying means provided in the horizontal passage portion takes in the inserted card into the horizontal passage portion.

Next, when a discharge signal is input to the card conveying means provided in the horizontal passage section, the card conveying means
The card taken into the horizontal passage is discharged according to the instruction of the discharge signal. When the ejection instruction of the ejection signal ejects the inserted card to the card insertion slot, the card transport means ejects the taken-in card from the card insertion slot.
Also, when the ejection instruction of the ejection signal indicates that the inserted card is ejected from the lower opening of the horizontal passage, the shutter provided at the lower opening of the horizontal passage is opened, and the taken-in card is ejected from the lower opening. I do. If the card is ejected from the card slot, it will be removed. When the card is ejected from the lower opening of the horizontal passage, the card drops from the lower opening of the horizontal passage and is ejected to the rotating passage provided continuously to the lower opening of the horizontal passage.

In the rotating passage portion, the card discharged from the lower opening of the horizontal passage portion falls, and is positioned in the bent passage of the rotating passage portion. It starts to rotate downward by gravity around the tip as a rotation axis. Then, the rotating outside of the rotating card rotates along the bent outside of the card path formed by projecting outward and curving, and the card is turned downward in time, and the long side of the card is in the vertical direction. The portrait is taken in a vertical orientation. The vertically oriented card is discharged from the lower opening of the vertical passage while being guided from the lower opening of the rotation passage to the vertical passage provided continuously to the lower opening of the rotation passage. The card falling from the vertical passage is stored in a card stacker provided below the vertical passage.

[0012]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory front perspective view of a lending machine showing a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
3 is an explanatory view taken along line AA of FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged explanatory view of FIG.
FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged explanatory view of a section taken along line BB of FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a rental machine showing a second embodiment, FIG.
5 is a cross-sectional explanatory view taken along the line AA of FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged explanatory view of the cross section taken along the line BB of FIG. 5, and FIG. FIG. 1 is a partial explanatory diagram of an embodiment, and FIG.
0 is a partially enlarged explanatory view of FIG. The following is the first embodiment.

1 is a lending machine, and W is a card.
In this embodiment, the lending machine 1 is installed between a plurality of pachinko machines (not shown) and outputs a ball number signal for renting a predetermined number of pachinko balls, which are game media, to the corresponding pachinko machine. Although it is described as a pachinko ball lending machine that rents pachinko balls at a pachinko machine, the same applies to a pachinko medal lending machine that rents medals to be used for a rotary gaming machine, lending game media with a card W, Any lending machine capable of accommodating the card W that has become unable to lend a medium may be used. The card W is made of a magnetic card in this embodiment.
The card W has recorded thereon at least the number of rentable game media or information corresponding to the number of game media. Of course, identification information for identifying each card W, information on the card owner, and the like may be stored for each card. And the rental machine 1
A signal can be output so that pachinko balls, which are game media, can be lent out within the range of the number of rentable balls recorded on the card W. The card W stores identification information capable of identifying each card W, information on the card owner, and the like.
A ball number signal indicating the number of balls set in advance for each card stored in a hall computer (not shown) connected so as to be able to input and output a signal is input, and pachinko balls are lent out within that range. You may. The lending machine 1 is provided with a card insertion slot 2 in which a card W can be inserted vertically on the surface of the lending machine 1, and further has a reader / writer having a control unit 3, a horizontal passage unit 4, and a card transport device therein. The section 5, the rotary path section 6, the vertical path section 7, the stacker section 8 as a card stacker, the operation section 10, and other functions necessary for lending pachinko balls are provided.

The card insertion slot 2 is configured such that the card W is inserted vertically in the lending machine 1 because the card W is generally inserted in a narrow space between the pachinko machines.

The control unit 3 includes a reader / writer unit 5 and
It is connected to the operation unit 10 so as to be able to input and output signals, and is also connected to a pachinko ball lending unit (not shown) provided on the side of a pachinko machine (not shown) that is connected to the operation unit 10 so as to be able to input and output signals. Then, the control unit 3 inputs ball number information indicating the number of lendable balls recorded on the card W inserted into the reader / writer unit 5. Then, the number of balls requested for lending input from the operation unit 10 is compared with the number of lendable balls recorded on the inserted card W to determine whether lending is possible or not. It is possible to output a pachinko ball lending signal for instructing the pachinko ball lending unit to lend a pachinko ball to the pachinko ball lending unit so as to perform lending in the range of the stored number of lendable balls. Further, when the inserted card W is no longer available for lending, such as by ending the lending of the number of pachinko balls that can be lent, a signal is output to the reader / writer unit 5 to collect the card W. When the player who has finished the game presses a card return button (not shown) and desires to return the card, a signal for returning the card W from the card insertion slot 2 is output. A pachinko ball lending unit (not shown) connected to the lending machine 1 is connected to the control unit 3 so as to be able to input and output a signal, and inputs a lending signal instructing to lend a predetermined number of pachinko balls output by the control unit 3. When a lending signal is input from the control unit 3, the input ball number is counted by a ball counting unit (not shown) and discharged to a pachinko machine (not shown).

The horizontal passage portion 4 is provided in the card insertion slot 2 in a horizontal direction, and has one end opened to the card insertion slot 2.
At the other end, there is a card outlet 41 that opens vertically in the rear side inside the lending machine 1, and the card outlet 41 is connected to the rotary passage 6. In the horizontal passage section 4, the reader / writer section 5 is installed at the position of the horizontal passage 42 of the horizontal passage section 4, and the card W inserted from the card insertion slot 2 is taken in and positioned to the reader / writer section 5. The horizontal passage portion 4 has a height slightly wider than the short side of the card W inserted from the end of the card insertion slot 2 to the card outlet 41, and the card W
Is formed as a passage having a width slightly larger than the thickness of the card W, and the card W can be conveyed without changing the inserted posture.

The reader / writer section 5 can take in the card W inserted from the card insertion slot 2 at the position of the reader / writer section 5 in the horizontal passage section 4.
Is provided to the card insertion slot 2 so that the card can be ejected from the card insertion slot 2 and, depending on the card W, can be ejected from the opening 41 of the horizontal passage portion 4. Further, the reader / writer unit 5 has a position
A reader / writer 52 is provided to face the magnetic recording surface of the card W taken in by the transport means 51. The reader / writer 52 is capable of reading the information on the number of available pachinko balls recorded on the card W, and is also capable of updating and writing the information on the number of available pachinko balls after lending.
When the card W is inserted into the card insertion slot 2, the reader / writer unit 5 causes the transport means 51 to transfer the card W to the reader / writer.
The data is taken into the writer 52 position, and the ball number information read from the card W by the reader / writer 52 is output to the control unit 3. The card W taken in by the transporting means 51 is discharged by inputting an instruction signal from the control unit 3 so that the transporting means 51 sends the card from the card insertion slot 2 or the card outlet 41 to which the instruction signal indicates. W can be discharged.

The rotation passage 6 has a card inlet 6 at one end.
1 is provided continuously with the card outlet 41 of the horizontal passage portion 4, and a lower opening 62 which is the other end forms a card outlet. A card path 63 is formed. The card inlet 61 has a height slightly wider than the short side of the card W and a vertically elongated width slightly larger than the thickness of the card W, like the card outlet 41, and is connected to the card outlet 41. The lower opening 62 is opened downward in the same shape as the card entrance 61. From the lower end of the card entrance 61, a horizontal portion 64 is formed so as to be continuous with the horizontal passage portion 4, and an inner bay portion 65 formed of an arc curved downward from an end of the lending machine 1 on the rear side of the horizontal portion 64 is provided. Further, a vertical inner wall 66 is provided following the inner bay portion 65. From the upper end of the card entrance 61, there is provided an outer bay portion 67 which is curved upward from the upper end of the card entrance 61 and provided downward. The outer bay portion 67 is formed of a circular arc concentric with the inner bay portion 65, and the lower end of the outer bay portion 67 forms an outer side 68 of the lower opening 62. Therefore, the lower opening 62 is provided with a vertical inner wall 66 provided downward from the inner bay 65.
The lower end of the outer bay portion 67 is opened to have a width slightly wider than the short side of the card W and slightly larger than the thickness of the card W, like the card outlet 41. Therefore, the space between the lower end of the outer bay portion 67 and the vertical inner wall 66 is opened at a slightly wider interval than the short side of the card W, as in the card outlet 41, so that the outer bay portion 67 of the card passage 63 is When the card W is rotated downward in the card passage 63, the long side, which is the lower side of the card W, contacts the inner bay 65 while the entrance 61 and the lower opening 62 are formed so as to protrude toward the rear side of the lending machine 1.
In addition, the front and rear ends of the long side, which is the upper side of the card W, are rotated downward while contacting the outer bay portion 67. Of course, depending on the distance between the outer bay portion 67 and the inner bay portion 64 or the bay portion 65 and the distance between the outer bay portion 67 and the vertical inner wall 66, the card W may be rotated with a slight gap depending on the portion. Becomes In this embodiment, the inner bay 65 is formed of an arc wall, but the inner bay 6
A part of the rotating portion of the rotatable roller that can freely rotate may be located at five positions to form the inner bay portion 65. In this case, the card W can be smoothly rotated downward.

The vertical passage portion 7 is provided continuously with the lower opening 62 of the rotation passage portion 6 and has a vertical inner wall 66 of the rotation passage portion 6.
An inner side 71 extending continuously from the lower opening 62 and an outer side 72 continuously extending in the vertical direction at the lower end of the outer bay portion 67 forming the outer side of the lower opening 62. Similarly, the width of the card W is slightly wider than the short side of the card W.
The width of the passage portion 73 is slightly larger than the thickness of the passage portion 73. The lower end of the passage portion 73 is provided with a discharge port 74 opened downward.
Is provided. Therefore, when the card W passes through the vertical passage section 7, the card W is controlled to a position where the long side is directed in the vertical direction and can be dropped vertically downward. The vertical guide 75
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the outlet 74 of the vertical passage 7
A card inlet 76 is provided at the lower end, which receives the card W discharged from the discharge port 74, is provided so as to extend the vertical passage portion 7 downward, and the lower end has a discharge port 77 opened downward. The card inlet 76 and the outlet 77 are formed slightly wider than the short side of the inserted card W as well as the outlet 74 of the vertical passage 7 and are slightly smaller than the thickness of the card W. Is formed as a thick passage. Accordingly, the width of the vertical guide 75 in the front-rear direction of the lending machine 1 is formed to be substantially the same as the discharge port 74 of the vertical passage portion 7 from the card inlet 76 to the discharge port 77 as shown in FIG. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the width of the vertical guide 75 in the direction of the lending machine 1 is the same as the width of the card inlet 76 at the lower portion of the outlet 74 of the vertical passage 7 below the outlet 74. Although formed with a width, at the outlet 77, one side surface 78a is provided vertically from the position of the outlet 74,
At the end of the discharge port 77, an inclined surface 79 is formed obliquely so as to be positioned toward the side surface 11 of the lending machine 1, and the other side surface 78b is bent at the upper portion toward the side surface 11 of the lending machine 1 to form a side surface. The vertical guide 75
Although the width is the same as the width of the lending machine 1 at the upper end in the side direction, the outlet 7
The opening position of 4 is not below the outlet 74 of the vertical passage 7 but on the side surface 11 of the lending machine 1. Therefore, the card W dropped from the card entrance 76 is dropped toward the lending machine side surface 11 along the inclined surface 79 with the short side positioned in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the card W falling from the lower opening 62 of the rotating passage portion 6 does not change its direction in the front-rear direction of the lending machine 1 shown in FIG. 3 and in the width direction of the lending machine 1 shown in FIG. In this case, the position of the card W is changed to the side surface 11, and the card W is dropped in the vertical direction through the vertical passage portion 7 without changing the attitude of the card W, and is dropped from the discharge port 76.

The stack section 8 as a card stacker is provided below the vertical passage section 7 and has a card-shaped box-shaped stacker 81. The stacker 81 has an upper surface 82 opened so that a card dropped from the vertical passage portion 7 can be stored, and has a cutout in approximately 3/4 of the upper surface side of one side surface 83, and one side surface of the bottom surface 84 of the stacker 81. 83
A rotating shaft 85 is provided at an end opposite to the rotating shaft 85, and the rental machine 1 is provided so as to be rotatable around the rotating shaft 85. The card W that is dropped at a vertically lower portion of the card W is slightly inclined with respect to the vertical direction, which is the falling direction of the card W, so as to contact the lower portion of the side surface 86. Since the lending machine 1 is narrow, the upper side of the stacker 81 is located outward from the side surface 11 of the lending machine 1.
As described above, since the stacker 81 of the stack unit 8 is positioned obliquely and the lower part of the side surface 86 is positioned below the outlet 71 of the vertical passage 7, the card W drops from the outlet 71 and
6, the lower portion of the card W moves obliquely downward along the surface of the side surface 86 so that the card W
It can be stored by turning it to the side. Also, since the stacker 81 of the stack section 8 is rotatably attached to the lending machine 1,
When the rental machine 1 is fitted into a narrow space between a rotary gaming machine (not shown) and installed, the stacker 81 is rotated to be positioned inside the rental machine 1, and the rotary gaming machine (not shown) is installed. (3) After the insertion, the card W can be rotated again and positioned obliquely so as to be located outside the lending machine 1, and the card W can be stored in a small space.

The operation unit 10 is provided on the surface of the lending machine 1,
An input unit 101, which is connected to the control unit 3 so as to be able to input and output signals and includes a numeric keypad or the like, is provided, and a desired number of pachinko ball lending desired by the player is input. The operation unit 10 includes
A display unit 102 capable of displaying the input desired number of pachinko ball lending or the lending balance of the card W, which is the number of lendable balls after lending, is provided. The signal indicating the desired number of pachinko ball lending input from the input unit 101 is output to the control unit 3. The operation unit 10 inputs information output from the control unit 3, for example, a signal indicating the number of lendable balls of the card W inserted in the lending machine 1, displays the information, and displays the information.
When the desired number of pachinko ball lending is input from 01, the number input from the input unit 101 can be displayed only for a predetermined time. Further, the operation unit 10 can output a return signal to the control unit 3 when the user inputs a card return instruction to the input unit 101 due to the end of the game or the like. The control unit 3 outputs a signal to the reader / writer unit 5 to return the card W from the card insertion slot 2 based on the return signal, and
Operates to return the card W from the card insertion slot 2 and returns the card W.

Although not shown, when the number of cards W that can be accommodated in the stacker unit 8 is accommodated, a warning lamp indicating that the card W cannot be accommodated is displayed on the front surface of the lending machine 1.
Alternatively, a hall computer (not shown) for centrally managing the hall is provided to warn that the card W cannot be stored. Of course, the warning lamp may be provided on both the surface of the rental machine 1 and the hall computer (not shown).

Next, the operation of the lending machine 1 according to the first embodiment configured as described above will be described. The user inserts the card W from the card insertion slot 2 of the lending machine 1. Then
The card conveying means 51 of the reader / writer unit 5 provided in the horizontal passage 42 of the horizontal passage unit 4 takes the card W into the horizontal passage 41 of the horizontal passage unit 4. The reader / writer 52 located on the magnetic surface of the card W taken in the horizontal passage 4
Reads the number of lendable balls recorded on the card W and outputs it to the control unit 3 connected thereto. The control unit 3 outputs a signal indicating the number of balls that can be rented out to the operation unit 10, and the operation unit 10
Then, the number is displayed on the display unit 102. On the other hand, the user inputs the desired number of balls from the input unit 101 of the operation unit 10, and the operation unit 10 outputs the number of balls desired to be lent to the control unit 3. At the same time, the operation unit 10 displays the number of desired lending balls on the display unit 102.

The control unit 3 compares the number-of-leasable balls signal of the inserted card W with the number of balls desired by the user input from the operation unit 10, and if the number of balls can be rented, the operation is performed. A lending signal is output to a pachinko ball lending unit (not shown) so as to lend the number of pachinko balls input from the input unit 101 of the unit 10, and a predetermined number of pachinko balls are lent by a pachinko ball lending unit (not shown). A correspondingly connected pachinko machine (not shown)
Lend to In this case, unless the user operates the operation unit 10 and instructs the ejection of the card W, the card W is kept in the horizontal passage unit 4 and the operation unit 10 is operated to eject the card W. Then, the card transport means 51 of the reader / writer section 5 ejects the card W from the card insertion slot 2. If the number of balls that the user inputs from the operation unit 10 is the maximum number of balls that the card W can rent, the control unit 3
Outputs a lending signal to a pachinko ball lending unit (not shown) so as to lend the number of lendable balls recorded on the card W, and moves the card W to the card outlet 41 of the horizontal passage unit 4. Thus, the instruction signal is output to the reader / writer unit 5. Then, the card transport means 51 of the reader / writer section 5
Discharges the taken card W to the card feed port 41.

The card W discharged from the card outlet 41
Is sent out to the horizontal portion 64 of the rotary passage portion 6, and at least one half of the longer side of the card W projects from the inner bay portion 65 of the horizontal portion 64 toward the vertical outer wall side at the sending end side of the card W, The sending end of the card W starts to rotate downward about the inner bay portion 65 by its own weight. At this time, the tip of the card W rotates downward while contacting the outer bay portion 65. The rotation of the card W causes the tip of the card W to turn downward while abutting on the inner bay portion 65, and the card W sent out from the horizontal passage portion 4 in the horizontal direction eventually changes its direction in the vertical direction and eventually turns in the rotation passage portion 6. From the lower opening 62 opened at the lower end of the
Fall inside. The card W that has moved to the vertical passage 7 passes through the passage 73 of the vertical passage 7, and falls vertically through the vertical passage 7 without changing its direction. From the discharge port 76.

The card W that has fallen from the discharge port 76 of the vertical guide 75 contacts the lower portion of the stacker side surface 86 of the stacker unit 8, and the tip of the contacted card W continues to fall obliquely toward the bottom surface 84. The top of the card is the stacker side 8
The card W is tilted so as to fall to the side 6 and eventually comes into contact with the bottom surface 84, and the card W is stored sideways to the side 86.

The card W taken in the horizontal passage 4
Is not readable by the reader / writer 52,
The control unit 3 outputs an instruction signal to the reader / writer unit 5 so as to discharge the card W to the card outlet 41 side, stores the card W in the stacker unit 8 as described above, and operates the operation unit 10.
Is displayed on the display unit 102 to inform the user of the fact.

Next, a second embodiment will be described.

Reference numeral 1 designates a lending machine which is a pachinko ball lending machine for lending pachinko balls as in the first embodiment, and W is a card. In the second embodiment, the lending machine 1 will be described as a betting machine lending machine. However, as in the first embodiment, a lending machine lending a medal which is a game medium of a rotatable gaming machine will be described. Similarly, the lending machine 1 may be a lending machine that lends a game medium with the card W and can accommodate therein the card W that has become unable to lend the medium. The card W is formed of a magnetic card in this embodiment, but may be formed of an IC card having an IC. The card W contains at least the number of rentable game media or information corresponding to the number of game media. Has been recorded. Of course, identification information for identifying each card W, information on the card owner, and the like may be stored for each card. Then, the lending machine 1 lends pachinko balls, which are game media, within the range of the number of lendable balls recorded on the card W. The card W stores identification information capable of identifying each card W, information on the card owner, and the like.
A ball number signal indicating the number of balls set in advance for each card stored in a hall computer (not shown) connected so as to be able to input and output a signal is input, and pachinko balls are lent out within that range. You may.

The lending machine 1 is provided with a card insertion slot 2 so that the card W can be inserted vertically as in the first embodiment, and further includes a control section 3, a horizontal passage section 20, and a card transport device. Reader / writer unit 30, first vertical passage unit 40,
Rotating passage section 50, second vertical passage section 60, stacker section 8 as a card stacker, pachinko ball lending section 9, operation section 1
0 and other functions required for renting a pachinko ball are provided.

The card insertion slot 2 is formed in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

The control unit 3 is connected to the reader / writer unit 30 and the operation unit 10 so as to be able to input and output signals, and a pachinko ball lending unit (not shown) of a pachinko machine (not shown) installed correspondingly. ) Are connected so as to be able to input and output signals, and are the same as in the first embodiment.

The horizontal passage section 20 is provided in the card insertion slot 2 in the horizontal direction, and has one end opened to the card insertion slot 2 so that the card W inserted from the card insertion slot 2 can move in the horizontal direction. A passage 201 is provided. In the horizontal passage section 20, a reader / writer section 30 is installed at a side position of the horizontal passage 201 of the horizontal passage section 20, and a card W inserted from the card insertion slot 2 is taken in and the reader / writer section is taken. 30 is located. The horizontal passage portion 201 is formed at a height slightly wider than the short side of the card W inserted from the end of the card insertion slot 2 and at a width slightly larger than the thickness of the card W, and the card W is inserted. Can be transported without changing the posture. Further, a lower opening 202 is opened below the horizontal passage 201. The lower opening 202 is
In the front-rear direction of the lending machine 1, the length of the card W is slightly wider than the long side which is the bottom of the inserted card W.
Is opened in a width direction slightly larger than the thickness of the card W.

The reader / writer section 30 is located in the horizontal passage section 20 in the same manner as in the first embodiment.
A reader / writer 302 is provided. In the second embodiment,
The direction in which the conveying means 301 conveys the card W is only on the card insertion slot 2 side. And in the second embodiment,
A shutter section 303 is provided at the position of the lower opening 202 of the horizontal passage section 20. The shutter unit 303 can be opened and closed by an instruction signal input from the control unit 3, and by inputting the instruction signal, a rotating unit provided above the reader / writer unit 30 as shown in FIGS. The shutter 303 opens the lower opening 202 around the center 304 and the lower opening 2
02 is opened and closed so that the card W located on the upper part of the card 02 can be dropped downward. At this time, the conveying means 301 provided to face each other and sandwiching the cards with each other is also slightly opened, so that the holding state of the card W is released and the card W falls. Of course, the shutter 303
After dropping, it returns to the original position again and can be held in the horizontal passage portion 20 again. Therefore, the card taken into the horizontal passage 20 is dropped downward when the shutter 303 is opened. As described above, in the second embodiment, when storing the card W in the lending machine 1, the card W is discharged from the lower opening 202. Other functions are the same as in the first embodiment.

The first vertical passage 40 has an upper end 401 connected to the lower opening 202 of the horizontal passage portion 20 and a lower opening 202.
Is provided vertically downward. The lower end is a card outlet 402, which is connected to the rotary passage portion 50 connected to the lower part continuously to the card outlet 402. As shown in FIG. 7, the width of the first vertical passage 40 in the front-rear direction of the lending machine 1 is substantially the same as the length of the lower opening 202 from the upper end 401 to the card outlet 402. On the other hand, the lending machine side width of the first vertical passage 40 is the same as the lending machine side width of the upper end 401 at the lower portion of the lower opening 202 of the horizontal passage portion 20. In the outlet 402, one side surface 403 is provided vertically from the position of the lower opening 202, and at the end of the card outlet 402, the inclined surface 4 is obliquely positioned so as to approach the side surface 11 of the lending machine 1.
06, and the other side surface 404 is bent at the upper part toward the side surface 11 side of the lending machine 1 and is provided vertically after approaching to the side surface 11 side. The opening position of the card outlet 402 is the lower opening 202.
Rather than below the side of the rental machine 1. Therefore, the card W dropped from the upper end 401 moves along the slope 406 with the long side positioned in the horizontal direction.
It is brought to the side and falls.

The rotary passage section 50 has an upper end having the same shape as the card outlet port 402 of the first vertical passage section 40 and has a card inlet 501 opened upward, and is connected to the card outlet port 402. The lower end 502, which is the other end, forms a card outlet, and is bent downward from the card inlet 501 to the rear of the lending machine 1 to form a card passage 503 provided over the lower opening 502. The card entrance 501 is slightly wider than the short side of the card W in the front-rear direction of the lending machine like the card exit 402,
In addition, the card W is opened laterally in a width direction slightly larger than the thickness of the card W in the lateral direction of the lending machine, and is connected to the card outlet 402. The lower opening 502 is opened downward in the same shape as the card entrance 501. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, from the lower end 402 of the first vertical passage portion 40, slightly below the short side length of the card W, and horizontally from the front side of the lending machine 1 by half the length of the long side of the card W. A horizontal portion 504 is formed, and an inner bay portion 505 composed of an arc curved downward from the end of the lending machine 1 on the rear side of the horizontal portion 504 is provided. Further, a vertical inner wall 506 is provided following the inner bay portion 505. An outer bay portion 507 is provided from the end of the card entrance 501 on the rear side of the lending machine 1 so as to be curved downward from the card entrance 501 and provided downward. The outer bay portion 507 is formed of a concentric arc with the inner bay portion 505,
The lower end of the outer bay portion 507 forms an outer side 508 of the lower opening 502. Therefore, the lower opening 502 is slightly wider than the short side of the card W, like the card outlet 41, between the vertical inner wall 66 provided below the inner bay 505 and the lower end of the outer bay 67. The opening is opened to a width slightly larger than the thickness. Therefore, the lower end of the outer bay portion 507 and the vertical inner wall 50
6, the card outlet 40 of the first vertical passage 40.
2, the card W is opened at a slightly wider interval than the short side of the card W. Therefore, the outer bay portion 507 of the card passage 503 is formed to protrude from the card entrance 501 and the lower opening 502 to the back side of the lending machine 1, When the card W is rotated downward in the passage 503, the lower side of the card W is in contact with the inner bay 505, and the upper and lower ends of the card W are in contact with the outer bay 507. While being rotated downward. Of course, the outer bay part 507 and the horizontal part 504 or the inner bay part 50
6 and the distance between the outer bay portion 507 and the vertical inner wall 506, the card W is rotated with a slight gap depending on the portion. In this embodiment, the inner bay portion 505 is formed of a circular arc wall. However, a part of a rotating portion of a rotatable rotating roller may be positioned at the inner bay portion 505 to form the inner bay portion 650. In this case, the card W can be smoothly rotated downward.

In the second embodiment, the upper end 401 of the first vertical passage is located substantially at the center of the lending machine 1 in the side direction since the horizontal passage is located substantially at the center of the lending machine 1 in the side direction. And the card outlet 402 is connected to the side 11 of the lending machine 1.
However, in the case where the card insertion slot 2 is configured to be shifted to the side surface 11 of the lending machine 1 in advance as in the first embodiment, the horizontal passage section 20 and the reader / writer section are formed. 3
Since 0 is also shifted toward the side surface 11, the upper end 401 and the card outlet 402 may be configured to be at the same position in the vertical direction.

The second vertical passage portion 60 is provided continuously with the lower opening 502 of the rotation passage portion 50, and extends continuously from the vertical inner wall 506 of the rotation passage portion 50, and the outside of the lower opening 502. And the outside 602 continuously extending in the vertical direction at the lower end of the outer bay portion 507 that forms the vertical direction, and is slightly wider than the short side of the card W like the lower opening 502 and the card W. The passage portion 603 is formed with a width slightly larger than the thickness of W. An outlet 604 is opened downward at the lower end of the passage 603. Therefore, when the card W passes through the vertical passage section 7, the card W is controlled to a position where the long side is directed in the vertical direction and can be dropped vertically downward.

The stacker unit 8 and the operation unit 10
This is the same as the embodiment.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described.

The user inserts the card W from the card insertion slot 2 of the lending machine 1. Then, the card conveying means 301 of the reader / writer section 30 provided in the horizontal passage 201 of the horizontal passage section 20 takes the card W into the horizontal passage 201 of the horizontal passage section 20. Then, the card W taken into the horizontal passage 20
The reader / writer 302 located on the magnetic surface of the card W
And reads out the number of balls that can be rented, and outputs the number to the control unit 3 connected thereto. The control unit 3 outputs a signal indicating the number of lent balls that can be read to the operation unit 10, and the operation unit 10 displays the number on the display unit 102. On the other hand, the user inputs the desired number of balls from the input unit 101 of the operation unit 10, and the operation unit 10 outputs the number of balls desired to be lent to the control unit 3. At the same time, the operation unit 10 displays the number of desired lending balls on the display unit 102.

The control unit 3 compares the number-of-loanable-balls signal of the inserted card W with the number of balls desired by the user input from the operation unit 10, and if the number of borrowable balls is within the range, the operation is performed. A lending signal is output to the pachinko ball lending unit (not shown) so as to lend the number of pachinko balls input from the input unit 101 of the unit 10, and the pachinko ball lending unit (not shown) supplies a predetermined number of pachinko balls. A correspondingly connected pachinko machine (not shown)
Lend to In this case, unless the user operates the operation unit 10 and instructs to eject the card W, the card W is kept in the horizontal passage unit 20 and the operation unit 10 is operated to eject the card W. Then, the card transport means 301 of the reader / writer section 30 ejects the card W from the card insertion slot 2. When the number of balls input by the user from the operation unit 10 is the maximum number of balls that can be lent by the card W, the control unit 3 causes the pachinko machine to lend the number of lent balls recorded on the card W. A lending signal is output to a ball lending unit (not shown), and the card W is inserted into the lower opening 2 of the horizontal passage unit 20.
An instruction signal is output to the reader / writer unit 30 so as to open the shutter unit 303 so that the shutter unit 303 is dropped from the camera unit 02. Then, one of the reader / writer units 30 is rotated around the rotation unit 304 to release the sandwiched state of the card W between the conveyance units 301, and the shutter unit 303 is opened. The taken card W is in the lower opening 202
From the vehicle to the first vertical passage 403.

In the first vertical passage portion 40, the dropped card W comes into contact with the slope 406 at a long side, which is the lower side, and further falls while moving toward the side surface 11 shown in FIG. Card exit 402 from card exit 4
02, falls into a rotating passage portion connected continuously below.

The card W dropped from the card outlet 402 reaches the horizontal portion 504 of the rotary passage 50, and the card W
Of the outer side of the horizontal portion 507, the half of the longer side of the card W protrudes from the inner side portion 505 of the horizontal portion 504 toward the vertical outer side, and the sending end of the card W with the inner side portion 505 as a fulcrum by its own weight. Start spinning down. At this time, the leading end of the card W rotates downward while contacting the outer bay portion 505. The rotation of the card W causes the tip of the card W to turn downward while abutting on the inner bay portion 650, and the card W dropped from the first vertical passage portion 40 changes its direction in the vertical direction, and the lower end of the rotation passage portion 50 eventually. From the lower opening 502 opened into the second vertical passage portion 60. The card W that has moved to the second vertical passage 60 is passed through the passage 60 of the second vertical passage 60.
By passing through No. 3, it falls in the vertical direction through the second vertical passage portion 60 without changing its direction. Then, it falls downward from the outlet 601 of the second vertical passage portion 60.

The card W dropped from the discharge port 601 of the second vertical passage portion 60 contacts the lower portion of the stacker side surface 86 of the stacker portion 8 as in the first embodiment, and the tip of the contacted card W has a bottom surface. The card W continues to fall obliquely in the direction of 84 and tilts so that the top of the card relatively falls to the side of the stacker side 86, and eventually comes into contact with the bottom 84, and the card W is moved to the side 8.
It is stored sideways on the 6 side.

The card W taken in the horizontal passage 4
Is not readable by the reader / writer 52,
The control unit 3 outputs an instruction signal to the reader / writer unit 5 so as to discharge the card W to the card outlet 41 side, stores the card W in the stacker unit 8 as described above, and operates the operation unit 10.
Is displayed on the display unit 102 to inform the user of the fact.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the stacker portion 8 is not located immediately below the rotating passage portion 6 but is positioned below and away from the rotating passage portion 6.
2, the card W dropped from the lower opening 62 of the rotation passage portion 6 can be moved toward the side of the lending machine 1 by the provision of the vertical guide portion 75 and can be stored in the stacker portion 8. However, when the stack portion 8 is located directly below the rotation passage portion 6, the vertical guide 7
5 is unnecessary.

Similarly, in the second embodiment, the rotary passage 50 is positioned below the lower opening 202 of the horizontal passage 20 and the card W is moved toward the side of the lending machine 1. (1) The vertical passage portion 40 is provided to guide the card W to the lower side. However, when the rotary passage portion 50 is provided immediately below the lower opening 202 of the horizontal passage portion 20 due to the internal structure of the lending machine 1 or the like, the structure may be provided without providing the first vertical passage portion 40. . Similarly, when there is a distance between the second vertical passage 50 and the stacker 8, a vertical guide 75 may be provided to guide the falling card, as in the first embodiment.

As described above, in both the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the vertical card which can guide the falling card according to the respective intervals of the horizontal passage, the rotation passage, and the stacker. By providing a guide, it can be configured to be compatible with various forms.

Therefore, for example, in the embodiment in which the card W is dropped from the lower opening 202 of the horizontal passage 20 as in the second embodiment, the card insertion slot 2, the horizontal passage 2
0, the reader / writer unit 5 and the stacker unit 8
As described in the third embodiment, a case where the rental machine 1 is arranged in a straight line when viewed from the front or rear side of the rental machine 1 will be described as a third embodiment. However, the third embodiment described below is
Similarly, the present invention can be implemented in the first embodiment. Hereinafter, only a main part of the third embodiment will be described.

In the third embodiment, FIG.
And the BB cross section appears as shown in FIG. That is, the first vertical passage portion 40 is positioned at the upper end 401 in the lower opening 202 of the horizontal passage portion 20, is opened to the lower opening 202, and is provided vertically downward continuously to the lower opening 202. A card outlet 402 is provided at the lower end, and the rotary passage portion 50 connected to the lower portion continuously to the card outlet 402.
Connected to As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the width of the first vertical passage 40 in the front-rear direction of the lending machine 1 and the width in the lateral direction of the lending machine 1 are both substantially the same as the lower opening 202 from the upper end 401 to the card outlet 402. However, unlike the second embodiment, the side surfaces 403 and 404 are provided in the vertical direction without being bent. Therefore, the card W falling from the lower opening 202 of the horizontal passage portion 20 drops vertically through the first vertical passage portion 40 without changing its direction, and further, the lower opening 502 of the rotary passage portion 50. It will be dropped from. In this embodiment, the stack unit 8
Are located vertically below the lower opening 202 of the horizontal passage section 20, there is no need to move the card W to the side surface 11 side of the lending machine 1 by the first vertical passage section 40.

The lower opening 202 of the horizontal passage 20
Is dropped from the upper end 401 of the first vertical passage portion 40 into the first vertical passage portion 40, and is sent out to the horizontal portion 504 of the rotary passage portion 50.
Of the card W projects from the inner bay portion 505 of the horizontal portion 504 to the vertical outer wall side at least one half of the long side of the card W. The sending tip rotates downward about the inner bay portion 505 as a fulcrum by its own weight. Begin to. At this time, the leading end of the card W rotates downward while contacting the outer bay portion 507. The rotation of the card W causes the tip of the card W to turn downward while abutting on the inner bay portion 505, and the card W sent out from the horizontal passage portion 20 in the horizontal direction eventually changes its direction in the vertical direction, and turns. From the lower opening 502 opened at the lower end of the second vertical passage portion 60. The card W that has moved to the second vertical passage 60 is passed through the passage 60 of the second vertical passage 60.
3 through the second vertical passage portion 60 without changing its direction, and falls in the vertical direction.
4 falls downward.

The discharge port 60 of the second vertical passage 60
The card W dropped from the stacker 4 comes into contact with the lower portion of the stacker side surface 86 of the stacker unit 8, and the leading end of the contacted card W continues to fall obliquely toward the bottom surface 84, and the upper portion of the card W relatively faces the stacker side surface 86. Slowly fall down to the bottom 8
At the same time, the card W is stored sideways on the side surface 86 side.

[0054]

Therefore, according to the present invention, the used card is stored in the lending machine, so that the used card is not scattered in the hall. Further, since the card can be stored vertically in the lending machine, the card can also be stored in the lending machine such as a pachinko hall where the inside of the island is narrow and the depth cannot be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a rental machine showing a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged explanatory view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged explanatory view of a cross section taken along line BB of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory front perspective view of a lending machine showing a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged explanatory view of FIG. 6;

8 is a partially enlarged explanatory view of a cross section taken along line BB of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of a third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged explanatory view of FIG. 8;

[Explanation of symbols]

 W card 1 Rental machine (betting machine) 11 Back 2 Card insertion slot 3 Control unit 4 Horizontal passage 41 Card outlet 42 Horizontal passage 5 Reader / writer unit 51 Transport means 52 Reader / writer 6 Rotation passage unit 61 Card Inlet 62 Lower opening 63 Card passage 64 Horizontal portion 65 Inner bay 66 Vertical inner wall 67 Outer bay 68 Outside opening 7 Vertical passage 71 Inside 72 Outside 73 Passage 74 Outlet 75 Vertical guide 76 Card entrance 77 Outlet 78a Side 78b Side 79 Slope 8 Stacker part 81 Stacker 82 Top surface 83 Side surface 84 Bottom surface 85 Rotating shaft 86 Side surface 10 Operation part 101 Input part 102 Display part 20 Horizontal passage part 201 of the second embodiment 201 Horizontal passage 202 Lower opening 30 Second embodiment Reader / writer section 301 of the present invention 301 conveying means 302 reader / writer 30 3 Shutter portion 304 Rotating portion 40 First vertical passage portion 401 Upper end 402 Card outlet 403 Side surface 404 Side surface 406 Slope 50 Rotation passage portion 501 of second embodiment 501 Card entrance 502 Lower opening 503 Card passage 504 Horizontal portion 505 Inner bay Part 506 Vertical inner wall 507 Outer bay part 508 Outside opening 60 Second vertical passage part 601 Inside 602 Outside 603 Passage part 604 Outlet

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A card insertion opening which is opened on the surface of a lending machine and is inserted from the short side of a rectangular card, with the short side being lengthwise, and one end connected to the card insertion opening. , A card passage is provided horizontally to the inside of the lending machine, and a card passage for opening the inserted card is opened at the other end, and a card passage is opened at one end, and one end is provided continuously with the card passage of the horizontal passage. And
At the other end, there is provided a lower opening which is opened downward, and between both ends, a card passage which is bent from the card feeding port of the horizontal passage portion to the lower opening is provided, and the inside of the bent card passage is folded from horizontal to vertical. Bent, the bent portion is formed to be curved, the bent outside of the card passage is projected outward from the card outlet and the lower opening of the horizontal passage portion, and the rotating passage portion formed by being curved, A vertical passage portion, one end of which is connected to the lower opening of the rotation passage portion and the other end thereof is opened downward to form a card passage portion, and a card provided below the vertical passage portion and falling from the vertical passage portion. A card stacker that can be stored and a card that is provided in the horizontal passage, takes in a card inserted from the card insertion slot into the horizontal passage, and receives a discharge signal indicating a discharge destination of the taken-in card. Card by instructions Or discharged from the card insertion port, or lending machine, characterized by comprising a card conveying means for conveying the card by selecting or discharged from the card outlet of the horizontal passage portion. 2. A card insertion slot which is opened on the surface of the lending machine and is inserted from the short side of the rectangular card, with the short side being lengthwise, and horizontally from the card insertion slot into the inside of the lending machine. The card insertion slot side is provided so as to be continuous with the card insertion slot, a lower opening for dropping the captured card downward is provided at the lower part of the horizontal portion, and a shutter for opening and closing the opening is provided at the lower opening. By inputting a discharge signal indicating the discharge destination of the inserted card, the card is selected by selecting whether to discharge from the card insertion slot according to the instruction of the discharge signal or to discharge the card from the lower opening with the shutter open. A horizontal passage portion provided with a card transport means for transporting the card; a card inlet which is located below a lower opening of the horizontal passage portion and which is opened at a lower opening side of the horizontal passage portion; An opening from the passage portion downward and across provided a card passage bent from the card inlet downwardly opening, folding inside the card passage is bent from the horizontal to the vertical,
The bent portion is formed to be curved, and the outside of the bent portion of the card passage projects outward from the lower opening, and is connected to a rotating passage portion formed by bending, and one end is connected to the lower opening of the rotating passage portion. A vertical passage portion provided with the other end opened downward; and a card stacker provided below the vertical passage portion and capable of storing a card dropped from the vertical passage portion.