JP2002183801A - Coin hopper - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent unfairness by detecting the blockage of a coin outlet of a coin hopper in an early time. SOLUTION: The coin hopper comprises a coil delivery device, a coin passage B in which coins delivered from the delivery device pass, a guide portion 2B for guiding the coins passing in the coin passage, a detection guide portion 2C constituting the coil passage, located in the downstream of the guide portion with a level difference from the guide portion, and a detector C arranged near the detection guide portion.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coin hopper that separates coins one by one and discharges them. In addition, "coin" used in this specification is a currency which is a currency,
Also includes substitute currency such as medals and tokens of game machines or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A coin hopper is built in a game machine, for example. That is, in FIG. 17, reference numeral 100 denotes a game machine. Reference numeral 101 denotes a built-in coin hopper. 102
Is a coin outlet. 103 is a coin slot. The coin hopper 101 is disclosed in, for example, US Pat.
No. 433.

An outline of the coin hopper 101 will be described with reference to FIG. It has a substantially disk-shaped hopper base 112 mounted at an angle of about 60 degrees on a frame 111 fixed to a horizontally arranged base 110. A motor 113 is fixed to the back side of the hopper base 112. On the front side of the hopper base 112, a rotating disk 114 constituting the coin feeding device A is arranged.

[0004] The rotating disk 114 is provided with the motor 11
3 is driven to rotate via a speed reducer (not shown). The periphery of the rotating disk 114 forms a step 115 to form a ring-shaped coin mounting surface 116. Coin loading surface 1
Pins 117 are fixed to 16 at predetermined intervals. 118
Is a cylindrical hopper ring fixed to the hopper base 112 so as to surround the outer periphery of the rotating disk 114. 119
Is a bucket-shaped coin bowl attached to the hopper ring 118 with its open end facing. A coin insertion opening 120 is formed in the upper side wall of the coin bowl 119.

A receiving knife 121 has a base fixed to the hopper base 112. The tip of knife 121 is close to step 115. 130 is a coin counter, which is a fixed shaft 13 fixed to the hopper base 112.
1, a lever 132 attached to the fixed shaft 131 so as to be swingable in the middle, a count roller 133 attached to the tip of the lever 132 relative to the knife 121, and a lever 13.
2, a count sensor (not shown) for detecting rotation to a predetermined position. A guide plate 134 covers the base of the knife 121.

The lever 132 is provided with a rotational force in a counterclockwise direction by a spring (not shown). The hopper base 112, the guide plate 134, and the upper surface of the base of the knife 121 constitute a coin passage 135. An end face of the coin passage 135 is a coin outlet 136.

Next, the flow of coins in the game machine 100 will be described. The player plays a game by inserting a coin into the coin insertion slot 103. The inserted coin is guided by a duct (not shown) and enters the coin bowl 119 from the opening 120. When the player wins by playing, the control circuit (not shown) of the game machine 100 outputs a coin payout signal.

When a coin payout signal is received from the control circuit of the game machine 100, the motor 1 of the coin hopper 101
13 is rotated. The rotation of the motor 113 causes the rotating disk 114 to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. By the rotation of the rotating disk 114, the coins in the coin bowl 119 are agitated, and the posture changes.

The coin having a flat surface in contact with the coin mounting surface 116 due to the change in the posture is locked by the pin 117.
The locked coin is entrained on the rotating disk 114 while the peripheral surface is supported by the step 115. When the coin reaches the knife 121, the coin is scooped by the knife 121.

Thereafter, the coin is pushed out toward the coin passage 135 by the pin 117 while being supported by the upper edge of the knife 121. On this way, the coin pushes up the count roller 133 and passes. Since the lever 132 is rotated clockwise by pushing up the count roller 133,
It is detected by a count sensor (not shown). The count sensor outputs a count signal indicating the number of coins to be released “1”.

The control circuit of the game machine 100, which has received the count signal, stops the rotation of the motor 113 in order to end the release when the predetermined number is reached. The coin that has passed through the count roller 133 is pushed out to the coin passage 135 and discharged from the coin exit 136. The discharged coin reaches the coin payout port 102 through the duct.

[0012] Recently, there is a person who commits fraud by inserting a hand from the outlet 102 to close the coin outlet 136. That is, when the exit 136 is blocked, the coin passage 13
A lot of coins are packed into 5 and the coins themselves are plugged.

As a result, the motor 113 is overloaded, so that an overcurrent is detected and automatically stopped. Alternatively, since the count signal is not transmitted from the coin counter 130 for a predetermined time, the control circuit of the game machine 100 performs an abnormal process and stops the motor 113.

A fraudulent person is a method of obtaining extra coins by making a claim that the number is less than the number of coins to be released.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to prevent the above-mentioned misconduct by detecting early that the coin exit of the coin hopper is closed.

[0016]

In order to achieve this object, a coin hopper according to the present invention is configured as follows. A coin delivery device, a coin passage through which the coins delivered from the delivery device pass, a guiding portion for guiding coins passing through the coin passage, and a coin passage, wherein the coin passage is located downstream of the guiding portion. The coin hopper has a detection guide portion having a step with the guide portion, and a detection body arranged near the detection guide portion.

According to this configuration, when the exit of the coin passage is closed, the leading coin is in contact with the detection guide.
Since the coin sent out later is guided by the guiding section, the coin is pushed forward in a state where the coin is diametrically shifted from the leading coin by a step.

As a result, the coin sent out later shifts in the radial direction of the coin. This displacement can be detected by the detector. Therefore, it is possible to detect the abnormality of the coin in the coin passage at an early stage and stop paying out, or call a staff member by issuing an alarm by sound or lamp. Therefore, the number of coins to be paid out in an abnormal state can be reduced, which is very effective in preventing fraud. In addition, since it has a simple configuration in which a step between the detection guide section and the guide section and a detection body are combined, there is an advantage that it can be manufactured at low cost and can be mounted later.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the detection guide is located below the guide. According to this configuration, the leading coin is always lower than the trailing coin. Therefore, the trailing coin rides on the leading coin and always moves upward. Therefore, the coin is displaced against gravity only in an abnormal case, and the detection by the detecting body can be reliably performed by stabilizing the operation.

In the present invention, the detection guide is preferably located immediately before the exit of the coin passage. According to this configuration, when the coin stops at the exit of the coin passage, the coin is located in the detection guide section. Therefore, the next coin is displaced and detected by the detection object. By this detection, the ejection of coins can be stopped or an alarm can be issued. Therefore, the number of coins released in the abnormal state can be extremely reduced.

In the present invention, the coin passage (B) preferably has a coin floating portion (E). With this configuration, when the coin sent out by the sending-out device is pushed into the coin passage, the coin does not enter the floating portion and does not hinder the sending-out movement of the sending-out device. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a failure caused by forcibly operating the delivery device.

In the present invention, it is preferable that a turning body projecting to the coin path upstream of the detection guide section in conjunction with the detection body is provided. According to this configuration, when the detection body detects a coin abnormality at the coin exit, the coin sent from the coin feeding device toward the coin exit is removed from the coin passage path by the direction change body. Therefore, since the coin is not sent to the coin exit, the number of coins released in an abnormal state can be extremely reduced.

Further, the present invention preferably has a control device for controlling the driving motor of the feeding device based on the movement of the detection object. According to this configuration, when the detection object moves due to the abnormality of the coin exit as described above, the movement stops the motor for driving the feeding device. As a result, the number of coins released in an abnormal state can be extremely reduced.

[0024]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment with a coin bowl removed. FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a partial front view of the first embodiment with a cover of a coin passage removed. FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the first embodiment in an abnormal state (a cover is removed). FIG. 5 is a partial front view of the first embodiment in an abnormal state. FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a perspective front view of the second embodiment in an abnormal state (with the cover removed).
Is a partial front view of the second embodiment in an abnormal state (cover removed). FIG. 9 is a perspective front view of the abnormal state of the second embodiment (cover removed), and FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of the third embodiment. FIG. 11 is a partial front view of the third embodiment in a normal state (a cover is removed).
FIG. 12 is a partial front view of the third embodiment in an abnormal state (a cover is removed). 13 is a partial perspective view of the fourth embodiment in the normal state. FIG. 14 is a partial front view of the fourth embodiment in the normal state (with the cover removed). FIG. 15 is a partial front view of the fourth embodiment in the abnormal state (with the cover removed). FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a control device according to the fourth embodiment.

The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The same parts as those of the prior art are denoted by the same reference numerals, and different configurations will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the coin hopper 101 in a state where the coin bowl 119 is removed as viewed obliquely from the upper right. The coin feeding device A is composed of a rotating disk 114 and pins 117 as in the conventional device.

Next, the coin passage B will be described with reference to FIG. The coin passage B includes a hopper base 112, a lower guide 2, an upper guide 3, and a cover 4 (see FIG. 2). The coin passage B is inclined leftward and downward. The lower guide 2 has a thickness slightly larger than the thickness of the coin. The lower guide 2 includes a knife 12
A screw 5 penetrating a guide plate 28 described later at a position adjacent to the upper surface 121S of the front end 1 is fixed to the back surface side of the cover 4. (See Fig. 2)

The rod-shaped lower guide body 2 has a substantially horizontal straight first guide portion 2A continuing to the tip upper surface 121S of the knife 121, and a straight, downward-sloping guide leading to the first guide portion 2A. A portion 2B and a detection guide portion 2C that is linear and downwardly inclined to the left and continuous with the guide portion 2B are formed. The guide portion 2B and the detection guide portion 2C have a step 6 of a height difference H1.

As will be described later, the step 6 may be of a size such that a leading coin can ride on a leading coin. Further, the guide portion 2B is formed such that its extension line intersects with the extension line of the detection guide portion 2C. In other words, the inclination angle of the guiding portion 2B is
It is larger than the inclination angle of C. This intersection is a structure for smoothly pushing up the coin.

The guide 2B and the detection guide 2C are connected by a gentle curve. The upper guide body 3 is fixed to the back side of the cover 4 by screwing a cover 4 and a screw 7 passing through the upper guide body 3 into a crank-shaped support 8 at a position above the lower guide body 2. The upper guide 3 has the same thickness as the lower guide 2 and is L-shaped. The detection guide 2C has a length slightly larger than the diameter of the coin.

The upper guide body 3 includes an arc-shaped second guide section 3A positioned relatively to the guide section 2B and a guide section 2 near the step 6.
B, and a triangular concave portion 3B continuous with the second guide portion 3A, and a convex third guide portion 3 continuous with the concave portion 3B.
C and a convex portion 3D between the second guide portion 3A and the concave portion 3B are formed. Since the cover 4 and the support 8 form an inverted concave portion, the concave portion is formed in the hopper base 11.
2 and is fixed to the hopper base 112 with the screw 7. Further, the lower end of the cover 4 is provided with a hopper base 112 with a screw 29 by using a crank-shaped guide plate 28.
It is firmly fixed by pressing against

Therefore, the thickness of the coin passage B is restricted by the cover 4 and the hopper base 112. Therefore,
In the coin passage B, two coins cannot overlap. The coin passage B generally includes a first passage B1 divided into upper and lower parts by a guide part 2B and a second guide part 3A, and a guide part 2B.
A second passage B2 divided up and down by the convex portion 3D, a third passage B3 divided up and down by the guide portion 2B and the concave portion 3B,
There is a fourth passage B4 divided into upper and lower parts by the detection guide part 2C and the third guide part 3C.

The end face of the fourth passage B4 is a coin outlet 136. The first passage B1 is formed by the arc-shaped second guide portion 3A.
The height is about 1.5 times the coin diameter. This first passage B
1 is a coin floating section E. The second passage B2 is connected to the guiding portion 2
Due to B and the convex portion 3D, the height is slightly larger than the diameter of the coin. The third passage B3 has substantially the same height as the first passage B1 due to the guiding portion 2B and the concave portion 3B. Fourth passage B4
Is a height slightly larger than the diameter of the coin.

Next, the structure of the detection object C will be described. A long hole 4H is formed in the cover 4 at a position near the concave portion 3B of the third passage B3. The elongated hole 4H extends in a direction away from the step 6.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a fixed shaft fixed to the cover 4.
Reference numeral 11 denotes a detection lever, which is formed by forming a plate material into a channel shape and a pair of side plates 11A and 11B and a connection plate 11C thereof.
And The detection lever 11 has a triangular shape, and a fixed shaft 1 that penetrates one vertex through the side plates 11A and 11B.
It is rotatably attached to 0.

The detecting lever 11 is counterclockwise as shown in the figure by a spring 12 whose intermediate part is wound around the fixed shaft 10, one end is hooked on the projection 4B of the cover 4, and the other end is hooked on the end of the connecting plate 11C. A rotational force is applied in the circumferential direction. The tip of the first shaft 13 fixed to the side plates 11A and 11B at one apex of the detection lever 11 is a hopper base 11
It protrudes to two sides. This protruding portion is the detector 14.
(See FIG. 5: the center is the detection body 14, and the outer ring shows the components on the detection lever 11 side)

The detector 14 projects from the slot 4H into the coin passage B and is located near the recess 3B of the third passage B3. The lower end of the elongated hole 4H also serves as a stopper that engages with the detector 14 and stops the rotation of the detector 14. Detector 14 when position is regulated by stopper
Is not in contact with the coin when the coin normally passes through the third passage B3. This detection object 14 is the detection object C
Is the minimum structural unit. In addition, a roller may be rotatably attached to the shaft 13 serving as the detection body 14 to serve as a detection body.

Next, the coin direction changing device D will be described with reference to FIG. The direction change device D includes a scraper 21 as a direction change body, a lever 22, and a connecting rod 23. The scraper 21 has a fixed shaft 25 having ends fixed to a pair of brackets 24A, 24B rising from the cover 4.
It is rotatably attached to.

The fixed shaft 25 is located above the guide 2B. (See FIG. 3) The tip 21T of the scraper 21 is formed in a tongue shape. Further, the tip portion 21T is movable to a concave portion 118R of the hopper ring 118 outside the rotary disk 114.
The concave portion 118R is provided on the tip upper surface 121S of the knife 121 on the rotating disk 114 side of the count roller 133.
Is located above the middle part.

The lever 22 is formed integrally with the scraper 21, extends on the opposite side of the scraper 21 with respect to the fixed shaft 25, and extends further from the fixed shaft 25 on the side opposite to the rotating disk 114. (Refer to FIG. 2).
The inclined long hole 2 is formed in the tip 22A of the fourth side which is bent horizontally.
2B is formed. A pin 26 fixed to a horizontal projection 23A at one end of the connecting rod 23 is slidably inserted into the oblong slot 22B.

The other end of the connecting rod 23 is connected to the detection lever 11
Is pivotally connected to a shaft 27 fixed to the side plates 11A and 11B at the other apical corners. The intermediate portion of the connecting rod 23 is slidably disposed between the upper end 28A of the guide plate 28 and the cover 4. This configuration prevents the connecting rod 23 from buckling due to the compressive force.

When the detector 14 is locked at the lower end of the elongated hole 4H, the scraper 21 is moved through the shaft 27, the connecting rod 23, the pin 26, and the inclined elongated hole 22B of the lever 22 as shown in FIG.
Is rotated most clockwise. That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the tip end portion 21 </ b> T of the scraper 21 is positioned above the mounting surface 116 of the rotating disk 114 at a predetermined interval. As a result, the coin does not come into contact with the coin that is sent out on the mounting surface 116.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. First,
The case where the coin hopper 101 operates normally will be described. As described above, the detector 14 is locked on the lower wall of the elongated hole 4H. The tip portion 21T of the scraper 21 linked to the link is in a state of being rotated clockwise the most as shown in FIG.

The rotation of the rotary disk 114 causes the pin 1
The coin pushed on the mounting surface 116 by the press of the knife 17 is scooped by the tip upper surface 121S of the knife 121. After being scooped, the coin is pin 117 on the top surface 121S.
To move to the left in the figure.

In this moving process, the coin is
Pass below. Thereafter, the coin is further pushed by the pin 117 and moves from the upper end surface 121S to the first guide portion 2A of the lower guide body 2. In this movement process, the coin pushes up the count roller 133 and passes. By pushing up the count roller 133, the lever 132
Is rotated clockwise, this is detected by a sensor (not shown), and a coin count signal is obtained.

Thereafter, the coin rolls on the guide 2B and passes through the first passage B1, the second passage B2, and the third passage B3. Then, the coin is discharged from the coin exit 136 via the fourth passage B4.

Next, the operation of the abnormal state in which the unauthorized person closes the coin exit 136 by hand will be described with reference to FIGS. When the coin exit 136 is closed, the first coin Z
1 stays over the third passage B3 and the fourth passage B4. Next, the second coin Z2 sent out is stopped by the leading first coin Z1 and stays in the third passage B3 with the lower peripheral surface in contact with the guide portion 2B. (The second coin Z at this time
2 is indicated by a chain line in FIG. 5)

The third third coin Z3 rolls on the guide portion 2B, is prevented from proceeding by the second coin Z2 at the front, and stays over the second passage B2 and the first passage B1. Then 4
The number coin Z4 is pushed by the pin 117 and moves from the upper end surface 121S of the knife 112 to the first guide portion 2A. By this movement, the third coin Z3 is pushed to the coin exit 136 side along the third passage B3 and the second coin Z2 (FIG.
Press the chain line). As described above, when the trailing coin pushes the leading coin, the coins in the coin passage B advance in a line with the overlap in the thickness direction being regulated by the hopper base 112 and the cover 4.

The direction of the force F2 by which the third coin Z3 pushes the second coin Z2 is parallel to the guiding portion 2B to be guided. The force of the second coin Z2 pressing the first coin Z1 is on the line connecting the contact point P1 with the first coin Z1 and the center of the second coin Z2 because of the step 6. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the reaction force F1 of the coin Z1 and the pressing force F2 of the third coin Z3 are applied to the second coin Z2.

The reaction force F1 and the pressing force F2 are defined by an obtuse angle X
, A force F3 toward the recess 3B acts on the second coin Z2. Therefore, the second coin Z2 is
It is pushed out toward the detection body 14. The movement of the pushed-out second coin Z2 is restricted by the wall surface defining the recess 3B and the detector 14, and the second coin Z2 becomes the position shown by the solid line in FIG. By this movement, the second coin Z2 pushes up the detection body 14. As a result, the detection lever 11 is rotated clockwise. By the rotation of the detection lever 11, the connecting rod 23 is moved rightward in the figure.

As a result, the pin 26 is
Is inclined with respect to the traveling direction,
Press A. Therefore, the lever 22 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. Along with this, the scraper 21 is rotated in the same direction. The tip 21T of the scraper 21 is
18R, the coin loading surface 1 of the rotating disk 114
The direction change position which is a position close to 16 (the position in FIG. 4)
Go to

The fourth coin Z4 is pushed by the further rotation of the pin 117 after the second coin Z2 moves to the arcuate portion 3B side. Thus, the fourth coin Z4 becomes the third coin Z3
Therefore, it moves to the arc-shaped portion 3A side. (See FIG. 5) In this movement process, the fourth coin Z4 is
3 is rotated clockwise to pass between the third coin Z3 and the count roller 133.

Thereafter, the count roller 133 returns to the original position by the spring force. Therefore, the fourth coin Z4 is supported by the third coin Z3 and the count roller 133, and is located on the arcuate portion 3A side of the first passage B1 away from the guide portion 2B. Thereby, the coin counter 130
Performs a count. In addition, the fourth coin Z4 is
Even if 7 moves, there is no contact.

Furthermore, the pin 117 is
With the rotation of 14, the third coin Z3 is also contacted from below and slightly lifted. At this time, the third coin Z3 moves without being prevented from moving, since the convex portion 3D is sufficiently separated from the guiding portion 2B. Therefore, the rotating disk 114 continues to rotate without any restriction. The movement of the third coin is performed every time the pin 117 passes.

When the scraper 21 is in the direction change position, the coin which has been pushed on the pin 117 on the coin mounting surface 116 is engaged with the tip 21T of the scraper 21. The tip portion 21T of the scraper 21 has an inclination (inclination in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper) that moves away from the coin placement surface 116 as it approaches the count roller 133 side. Therefore, the upper end of the coin is
It is separated from the coin mounting surface 116 by T and is raised toward the coin bowl 119 side.

As a result, the coin is moved to the knife tip upper surface 12.
It falls from 1S and does not reach the count roller 133.
Therefore, even if the coin exit 136 is closed, the coin does not jam in the coin passage B. In addition, in this example, since no more than four coins are released, there is an effect of not inciting fraud.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The same parts as those in the prior art and the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and different configurations will be described. In the second embodiment, the guide piece 30 is fixed to the middle of the knife 121. The arc-shaped upper edge of the guide piece 30 is the guide portion 31 and is a slope descending left. The detection guide section 32 includes a knife 121.
, And is a linear, downward-sloping slope. The guide portion 31 and the detection guide portion 32 constitute a step 33 having a height H2.

The guide section 31 and the detection guide section 32 are continuous on a slope. Above the base of the knife 121, a right-angled triangular upper guide 35 is fixed to the hopper base 112. The lower surface of the upper guide body 35 is a fourth guide portion 36, which is linear and substantially horizontal. Reference numeral 37 denotes a plate-like body defining a coin outlet 136, and the hopper base 11
It is fixed to 2.

The guide piece 30, the knife 121, and the upper guide 35 are fixed to a plate-like spacer 51 slightly thicker than the projecting amount of the pin 117 from the coin mounting surface 116. The spacer 51 is fixed to the hopper base 112. An end of the spacer 51 on the coin mounting surface 116 side is an inclined guide surface 51A continuing from the mounting surface 116.

The flat cover 4 is fixed to the knife 121 and the upper guide 35 from the side by screws 39 or the like. Guide unit 31, detection guide unit 32, fourth guide unit 3
The space surrounded by 5, the spacer 51, the cover 4, and the plate 37 is the coin passage B. The thickness of the passage B is set so that two coins do not overlap as in the first embodiment.

The plate-like body 37 completely covers the end face of the coin passage B. The guide portion 31 and the fourth guide portion 36 define a first passage B1. The guide portion 31 and the fourth guide portion 36 define a second passage B2. The guide portion 31, the fourth guide portion 36 and the plate-like body 37 define a third passage B3. The lower end 37A of the plate-like body 37 and the detection guide portion 32
A passage B4 is defined.

Next, the detector C will be described. Hopper base 1
A detection lever 42 is rotatably mounted on a fixed shaft 41 fixed to
Is attached. The detection plate 43 is formed by bending the upper end of the detection lever 42 toward the hopper base 112. The detection plate 43 is the minimum constituent unit of the detection object C. An arc-shaped opening 45 is formed in the cover 4. The hopper base 112 also has an opening 46 opposite to the opening 45. The detection plate 43 is inserted into these openings 45 and 46.

As a result, the detection plate 43 is located in the third passage B3 of the coin passage B. The detection lever 42 is provided with a rotational force in a counterclockwise direction by a spring (not shown), and the detection plate 43
The normal position is maintained by contacting 6A. Next, the configuration of the direction changing device D will be described. The lever 50 is rotatably attached to the fixed shaft 131.

The lever 50 is provided with a rotational force in a clockwise direction by a spring (not shown). An end surface 52A of the lever 50A protruding toward the detection lever 42 of the lever 50 constitutes a part of the Geneva mechanism 52. The end surface 52B of the lever 42A that is integral with the detection lever 42 and extends in the direction opposite to the detection lever 42 forms the other of the Geneva mechanism 52.

A lever projecting from the lever 50 on the side opposite to the detection lever 42 is a scraper 53. Scraper 53
When rotated counterclockwise, the leading end 53T of the hopper ring 118 advances into the concave portion 118R of the hopper ring 118. When the tip 53T of the scraper 53 advances into the recess 118R,
It is located slightly near the mounting surface 116 of the rotating disk 114. A slope 53M is located above the coin placement surface 116 (in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface) as it goes from the tip 53T toward the base of the lever 53.

Next, the Geneva mechanism 52 will be described. The end surface 52B of the lever 42A has a convex portion 55 and an arc surface 56 centered on the fixed shaft 41. Lever 50A
The end face 52A has a convex portion 57 and an arc surface 58 having the same curvature as the arc surface 56. With this configuration, when the detection lever 42 is rotated in the clockwise direction, at the beginning of the rotation, the convex portion 55 pushes the convex portion 57 to rotate the lever 50A counterclockwise, and the tip 53T of the scraper 53 is moved to the concave portion 118R. Move.

When the distal end 53T moves to a predetermined position, the arc surface 56 and the arc surface 58 face each other so that the lever 50A is not rotated even if the lever 42A is further rotated clockwise.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described. The state of the detection lever 42 and the lever 50 when the coin hopper 101 operates normally will be described. Detection lever 42
Since a rotational force is applied in the counterclockwise direction by a rotational force of a spring (not shown), the detection plate 43 is stationary with the detection plates 43 in contact with the lower edges 45A and 46A of the openings 45 and 46. At this time, the detection plate 43 does not come into contact with the coin guided by the guiding unit 31.

The lever 50 is provided with a rotating force in the clockwise direction by a spring (not shown).
7 is in a state of being stopped by being hooked on the convex portion 55 of the lever 42A. At this time, the scraper 53 is at the most clockwise position, and the tip 53T is outside the recess 118R. That is, the tip 53T of the scraper 53 is separated from the mounting surface 116. Due to the rotation of the rotating disk 114, the coin pushed by the pin 117 and moved together with the rotating disk 114 is the tip upper surface 121S of the knife 121.
Scooped by

After being scooped, the coins
S is pushed by the pin 117 and moves leftward in the figure. In this movement process, the coin passes below (in the vertical direction in the figure) since the tip of the scraper 53 is separated by a predetermined distance.
Thereafter, the coin is further pushed by the pin 117 and moves from the upper end surface 121S to the arcuate intermediate portion 121M of the knife 121. In this movement process, the coin Z pushes up the count roller 133 and passes. The push-up of the count roller 133 is detected by a sensor (not shown), and a coin count signal is obtained.

Thereafter, the coin is placed on the inclined guide surface 51.
Rolling on the intermediate portion 121M while being guided by the upper surface 51B of the spacer 51 by A, reaches the first passage B1. Next, it rolls on the guide portion 31 and passes through the first passage B1, the second passage B3, and the third passage B3. Next, the coin is guided to the guiding unit 31.
From the detection guide portion 32 through the step 33 from the
It is discharged from the coin outlet 136 via the passage B4. Next, the operation of an abnormal state in which a fraudulent person closes the coin exit with his / her hand will be described with reference to FIGS.

When the coin outlet 136 is closed, first, the first coin Z1 stays over the third passage B3 and the fourth passage B4. Next, the second coin Z2 sent out is stopped by the leading first coin Z1 and stays in the third passage B3 while the lower peripheral surface is in contact with the guide portion 31. The third third coin Z3 rolls over the guide portion 31 and is prevented from proceeding by the leading second coin Z2, and stays over the second passage B2 and the first passage B1.

Next, the fourth coin Z4 is pushed by the pin 117 and moves from the upper end surface 121S to the intermediate portion 121M. The fourth coin Z4 is guided by the guide surface 51A and is located on the spacer upper surface 51B. Due to this movement, the third coin Z3 is pushed toward the coin exit 136 along the second passage B2 and pushes the second coin Z2 at the front. Thereby, the second coin Z2 is provided with the same operation as the first embodiment.
A force toward the fourth guide portion 36 acts. Therefore, the second coin Z2 is pushed out toward the detection plate 43. By this movement, the second coin Z2 pushes up the detection plate 43.

Thus, the detection lever 42 and the lever 4
2A is rotated clockwise. Due to this rotation, the convex portion 55 pushes down the convex portion 57 of the lever 50A, so that the scraper 53 is rotated counterclockwise around the fixed shaft 131, as shown in FIG. Thereby, the tip 53T
Enters the recess 118R. This position of the tip 53T is a direction change position close to the coin mounting surface 116 of the rotating disk 114.

The fourth coin Z4 is the fourth coin Z2.
By moving to the guide section 36 side, it is possible to move to the vicinity of the guide section 31. That is, since the fourth coin Z4 is opposed to the upper surface 51B of the spacer 51, the fourth coin Z4 is located at a position slightly offset from the amount of protrusion of the pin 117 from the coin mounting surface 116. Therefore, even if the pin 117 moves, it does not engage with the fourth coin Z4.

Thus, the rotating disk 114 continues to rotate. Since the second coin Z2 overlaps the first coin Z1 almost in the vertical direction, the detection lever 42 keeps the state of FIG. 8 to be in the locked state. When the scraper 53 is at the turning position, the coin 1
The coin pushed by 17 is engaged with the slope 53M from the tip 53T of the scraper 53.

Therefore, the upper end of the coin Z is inclined 53
The coin is separated from the coin mounting surface 116 by M and is raised to the coin bowl 119 side. Thus, the coin falls from the knife tip upper surface 121S and does not reach the count roller 133. Therefore, even if the coin outlet 136 is closed, the coin does not get stuck in the coin passage.

Further, in this example, since no more than four coins are discharged, there is an effect that the injustice is not tempered. further,
Since the coin is retained at a position offset with respect to the coin mounting surface 116 by the spacer 51, there is an advantage that even if the pin 117 moves, the coin does not contact the retained coin.

Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The same portions as those of the prior art and the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and different configurations will be described.
First, the lower guide 2 will be described. As shown in FIG.
The lower edge of the cover 4 is bent at right angles to the rotating disk 114 and the hopper base 112 to form the lower guide 2.

That is, it has a first guide piece 2X facing the mounting surface 116, a guiding piece 2Y facing the mounting surface 116 and the hopper base 112, and a detection guide piece 2Z facing the hopper base 112. The upper surface of the first guide piece 2X is a first guide surface 2A that is linear and slopes downward and to the left. Guiding piece 2
The upper surface of Y is a guide portion 2B that is linear and slopes downward and to the left. The upper surface of the detection guide piece 2Z is a detection guide portion 2C that is linear and slopes downward and to the left.

A gap between the first guide piece 2X and the guide piece 2Y is a passage G of the pin 117. The guide portion 2B has the largest inclination angle, and its extension line intersects with the detection guide portion 2C. There is a step 6 with a height H3 between the guide 2B and the detection guide 2C. As described above, when the lower edge portion of the cover 4 is bent to form the first guide portion, the guide portion, and the detection guide portion,
Since the sheet metal can be formed by pressing, it can be manufactured at low cost.

In the upper guide body 3 of this embodiment, the second guide portion 3A is formed on a straight slope inclined downward and to the left. Recess 3
B is constituted by the arc-shaped portion of the guide 3 and the plate 37. The convex portion 3D is formed on a linear inclined surface having a smaller inclination angle than the second guide portion 3A.

Next, the structure of the detection object C will be described. Cover 4
A detection lever 61 is rotatably attached to a shaft 60 fixed to the shaft. This lever 61 has a hopper base 11
Detecting piece 62 projecting to two sides (extending downward in the drawing)
Having. The detection piece 62 is the minimum constituent unit of the detection object C.

The detecting lever 61 is provided with a rotational force in a counterclockwise direction by a spring (not shown). The hopper base 112 has an elongated hole 112H of the same shape as the elongated hole 4H. The detecting piece 62 is inserted into the long hole 4H and the long hole 112H of the cover 4. This allows
The detection piece 62 is located in the third passage B3. In addition, 4
W denotes an oblong observation hole opened in the cover 4 along the coin passage B.

Next, the configuration of the direction changing device D will be described. A link lever 61A is formed integrally with the detection lever 61. A long hole 62C is formed at the tip of the link lever 61A. A lever 91 is rotatably attached to the fixed shaft 131. A pin 92 is fixed to one end of the lever 91. The pin 92 is slidably inserted into the elongated hole 62C. The other end of the lever 91 is a scraper 93, and a tip portion 93T is formed in a triangular shape.

That is, when the lever 91 rotates in the counterclockwise direction, the scraper 93 advances to the concave portion 118R, and the inclined surface 93S moves to a position very close to the mounting surface 116 of the rotating disk 114. Further, the inclined surface 93S is inclined with respect to the mounting surface 116 in a direction away from the rotation direction.

Next, the operation of the third embodiment will be described. The state of the detection lever 61 when the coin hopper 101 operates normally will be described. Since the detection lever 61 is provided with a rotational force in the counterclockwise direction by the rotational force of a spring (not shown), the detection lever 62 is stationary with the detection piece 62 in contact with the lower ends of the long holes 4H and 112H. At this time, the detection piece 62 does not come into contact with the coin guided by the guiding portion 2B.

The pin 92 is moved by the link lever 61A.
It is pushed up as shown in FIG. As a result, the lever 91 is in the most clockwise rotation state, and the leading end 93T of the scraper 93 is separated from the coin placement surface 116. The coin that has moved by the rotation of the rotating disk 114 is scooped by the upper surface 121S of the tip of the knife 121.

After being scooped, the coins
S is pushed by the pin 117 and moves leftward in the figure. In this movement process, the coin passes below (in the vertical direction in the figure) the tip portion 93T is separated by a predetermined distance. afterwards,
The coin is further pushed by the pin 117 and the tip upper surface 121S is pushed.
To the first guide 2A. In this movement process, the coin pushes up the count roller 133 and passes. The push-up of the count roller 133 is detected by a sensor (not shown), and a coin count signal is obtained.

Thereafter, the coin rolls on the first guide 2A and passes through the first passage B1. Next, it rolls on the guide part 2B and passes through the second passage B2 and the third passage B3. Next, the coin rolls on the detection guide section 2C from the guide section 2B via the step 6 and passes through the fourth path B4 to the coin exit 13
Released from 6. Next, the operation of an abnormal state in which a fraudulent person closes the coin exit with his / her hand will be described with reference to FIGS.

When the coin exit 136 is closed, first the first coin Z1 stays over the third passage B3 and the fourth passage B4. The next sent-out second coin Z2 is stopped by the leading first coin Z1 and stays in the third passage B3 while the lower peripheral surface is in contact with the guiding portion 2B. The third third coin Z3 rolls over the guiding portion 2B and is prevented from proceeding by the second coin Z2 in the front position, and the second passage B2 and the first
It stays over the passage B1.

Next, the fourth coin Z4 is pushed by the pin 117 and moves from the top surface 121S to the first guide portion 2A.
Thus, a force toward the recess 3B acts on the second coin Z2 by the same operation as in the first embodiment. Therefore, the second coin Z2 is pushed out toward the detection piece 62. By this movement, the second coin Z2 pushes up the detection piece 62.

Thus, the detection lever 61 and the link lever 61A are rotated clockwise. By this rotation, the pin 92 is pushed down, and the lever 91 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, so that the distal end portion 93T of the scraper 93 is moved to the concave portion 1.
Advance to 18R. This position of the distal end portion 93T is a direction change position close to the coin mounting surface 116 of the rotating disk 114.

The fourth coin Z4 can move to the vicinity of the second guide surface 3A by moving the second coin Z2 toward the concave portion 3B. Then, the third coin Z3 and the count roller 133 are held at that position as shown in FIG. This allows the pin 117 to pass below the fourth coin Z4, so that the rotating disk 114 continues to rotate.

[0094] The second coin Z2 is the first coin Z1.
12 overlaps in a substantially vertical direction, so that the detection lever 61 is
State is kept locked. When the leading end portion 93T is at the direction change position, the coin that has been pushed on the coin placement surface 116 and pushed by the pin 117 is engaged with the inclined surface 93S.

Therefore, the upper end of the coin Z is inclined 93
The coin is separated from the coin placing surface 116 by S and is raised to the coin bowl 119 side. Thus, the coin falls from the knife tip upper surface 121S and does not reach the count roller 133. Therefore, even if the coin outlet 136 is closed, the coin does not get stuck in the coin passage. Also, in this example, since no more than four coins are released, there is an effect of not inciting fraud.

Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Conventional technology and first and second embodiments,
The same components as those of the third embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and different configurations will be described. A micro switch 65 is fixed to the cover 4. The action piece 66 of the micro switch 65 is
When the detection lever 61 is rotated clockwise by a predetermined amount, it is pushed in by the pusher 67.

Next, referring to FIG.
A control device 70 that performs control in response to the output of No. 5 will be described.
The output of the micro switch 65 is provided to a determination circuit 71. The discrimination circuit 71 outputs a stop signal when the micro switch 65 is turned on. The discrimination circuit 71 can be configured by a microprocessor and a program.
72 is a reset switch of the determination circuit 71. The output of the determination circuit 71 is the motor control circuit 7 of the motor 113.
Enter 3

When a stop signal is input from the discrimination circuit 71, the motor control circuit 73 releases the contact 75 of the power supply circuit 74. Further, the output of the determination circuit 71 is input to the alarm control circuit 76. The alarm control circuit 76 includes an alarm lamp 77
Of the power supply circuit 78 is closed. At the same time, the contact 82 of the power supply circuit 81 of the alarm speaker 80 is closed.

Next, the operation of the third embodiment will be described. When the coin hopper 101 is operating normally, the detection piece 62 is in a state of being locked to the lower edge of the opening 4A as described above. (Position in FIG. 14) By the rotation of the rotary disk 114, the coin pushed by the pin 117 and moved with the rotary disk 114 is scooped by the tip upper surface 121S of the knife 121.

[0100] After being scooped, the coin is inserted into the top surface 121 of the tip.
S is pushed by the pin 117 and moves leftward in the figure. Thereafter, the coin is further pushed by the pin 117 and the top surface 12
Move from 1S to the first guide surface 2A. In this movement process, the coin pushes up the count roller 133 and passes. By pushing up the count roller 133,
When the lever 132 is rotated clockwise, a coin count signal is obtained. Thereafter, the coin rolls on the guide 2B and passes through the first passage B1 and the second passage B2.

Next, the coin rolls on the detection guide section 2C from the guide section 2B via the step 6, and passes through the third path B3. At this time, since the detection piece 62 is farther from the guiding portion 2B than the diameter of the coin, there is no problem in passing the coin.
Then, the coin passes through the fourth passage B4 and exits through the coin exit 13
Released from 6. Next, the operation of the abnormal state in which the fraudulent person closes the coin exit with his / her hand will be described with reference to FIG.

In the same manner as in the first embodiment, the second coin Z2 is pushed out to the recess 3B side in the second passage B2. As a result, the second coin Z2 pushes up the detection piece 62. When the detection piece 62 is pushed up, the detection lever 61 is rotated around the shaft 60 in the clockwise direction. By this rotation, the action piece 66 is pushed by the pusher 67, and the micro switch 65 is turned on.

When the discrimination circuit 6 receives the ON signal from the microswitch 65, it outputs a stop signal to the motor control circuit 73 and the alarm control circuit 76. Motor control circuit 73
Releases the contact 75 in response to the stop signal. As a result, the power supply to the motor 113 is cut off, and the rotation of the motor 113 is stopped. Therefore, the rotation of the rotating disk 114 is also stopped, and the feeding of coins is stopped. On the other hand, the alarm control circuit 76 closes the contact 79 of the power supply circuit 78 and turns on the alarm lamp 77. At the same time, the contact 82 of the power supply circuit 81 of the alarm speaker 80 is closed to issue an alarm.

The warning lamp 77 or the warning speaker 8
The clerk rushes in response to the alarm of 0 to deal with the trouble.
Note that the present invention can be variously modified. For example, the first
The configurations of the embodiments to the fourth embodiment may be appropriately combined. As a specific example, the coin delivery device may be a rotating disk having a coin passage hole.

Further, since the detector only needs to detect the movement of the leading coin pushed by the trailing coin, it may detect that a space is formed by the pushed coin. Furthermore, the movement of the detection object pushed by the coin may be optically detected. Furthermore, any one of the stop of the motor 113, the turning on of the alarm lamp 77, and the sounding of the alarm speaker 80 may be activated by the stop signal from the determination circuit 71. Further, an alarm may be issued by another alarm means.

[0106]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment with a coin bowl removed.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a partial front view of the first embodiment with a cover of a coin passage removed.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the first embodiment in an abnormal state (a cover is removed).

FIG. 5 is a partial front view of an abnormal state of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective front view of the abnormal state of the second embodiment (cover removed).

FIG. 8 is a partial front view of the second embodiment in an abnormal state (a cover is removed).

FIG. 9 is a perspective front view of an abnormal state of the second embodiment (cover removed).

FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of a third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a partial front view of the third embodiment in a normal state (a cover is removed).

FIG. 12 is a partial front view of the third embodiment in an abnormal state (cover removed).

FIG. 13 is a partial perspective view of the fourth embodiment in a normal state.

FIG. 14 is a partial front view of the fourth embodiment in a normal state (a cover is removed).

FIG. 15 is a partial front view of the fourth embodiment in an abnormal state (with the cover removed).

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a control device according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a game machine in which a coin hopper is incorporated.

FIG. 18 is a schematic perspective view of a conventional coin hopper.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Coin feeding device A Coin passage B Detector C Turning body D Coin floating part E Guiding part 2B, 31 Detection guide part 2C, 32 Step 6, 33 Control device 70 Driving motor 113 Coin outlet 136

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A coin delivery device (A) and a coin passage (B) through which coins delivered from the delivery device (A) pass.
And a guiding unit for guiding coins passing through the coin passage (B).
(2B, 31) and the coin path (B), and a step difference with the guiding section (2B, 31) downstream of the guiding section (2B, 31).
(6, 33) a detection guide unit (2C, 32), and the detection guide unit
And a detection object (C) arranged near (2C, 32). 2. The coin hopper according to claim 1, wherein the detection guide section is located below the guide section. 3. The coin hopper according to claim 1, wherein the detection guide section is located immediately before the coin exit in the coin path. 4. A coin hopper according to claim 1, wherein said coin passage has a coin floating portion. 5. A turning body (21, 53) which projects in a coin path upstream of the detection guide section (2C, 33) in conjunction with the detection body (C).
The coin hopper according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, and 4, further comprising: 6. A delivery device based on the movement of a detection object (C).
5. The coin hopper according to claim 1, further comprising a control device (70) for controlling the driving motor (113) of (A).