JP2002251644A - Coin hopper - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent unfairness by early detecting that the coin outlet of a coin hopper is blocked. SOLUTION: This coin hopper comprises a feeding device of coins, a coin passage for passing the coins fed from the feeding device, a detection guiding part for guiding the coins passing through the coin passage, a detecting body disposed near the detection guiding part, a direction changing body projecting to a coin conveying passage on the upstream side than the detection guiding part in cooperation with the detecting body, and a flexible connecting body for connecting the detecting body with the direction changing body.

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. 9, 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, for example, in US Pat.
No. 3 is similar to that disclosed.

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 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. The rotation of the rotating disk 114 causes the coin bowl 1
The coin in 19 is 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 fraudster is a method of obtaining extra coins by making a claim that the number is less than the number of coins to be released.

[0014]

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.
A second object is to stop coin ejection by detecting that the coin exit is blocked. A third object is to manufacture a device for stopping coin ejection at low cost.

[0015]

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 coins sent from the delivery device pass, a detection guide portion for guiding coins passing through the coin passage, a detection body arranged near the detection guide portion, and a detection body A coin hopper comprising: a turning body that interlocks and projects into a coin transport path upstream of the detection guide section; and a flexible connecting body that connects the detecting body and the turning body.

According to this configuration, when the exit of the coin passage is closed, the coins whose ejection is prevented are located in the detection guide. The detection object is directly or indirectly moved by the coin located in the detection guide section.

By this movement, the direction change body is made to protrude into the coin transport path via the flexible connector. The coin that has traveled along the coin transport path is disengaged from the coin transport path by engaging with the turning body. At this time,
Since the detector and the turning body are connected by the flexible connector, the position of the turning body does not change even if the position of the detecting body changes, so that the coin can be stably removed from the transport path. Can be. 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 the detection body and the direction change body are connected by the flexible connection body, there is an advantage that it can be manufactured at low cost.

Further, in the present invention, it is preferable that the detection guide section is located downstream of the guide section and has a step with the guide section. 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, only when abnormal, the coin is displaced against the gravity, so that the operation is stabilized, and the detection by the detection object can be reliably performed.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the detection guide is located immediately before the coin exit in 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 to move the detection object. By using this movement, the ejection of coins can be stopped. Therefore, the number of coins released in the abnormal state can be extremely reduced.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the flexible connector is an elastic body. With this configuration, since the elastic member has a simple configuration, it can be manufactured at low cost.

[0021]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the embodiment with a coin bowl removed. FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a partial front view of the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a rear view of the cover of the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an operation in an abnormal state according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an operation in an abnormal state according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 shows another example of the flexible connector. FIG. 8 shows still another example of the flexible connector.

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 FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. FIG. The coin passage B has a hopper base 112
, The lower guide 2, the upper guide 3, and the cover 4. The coin passage B is inclined leftward and downward.

Next, the structure of the lower guide 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the lower edge of the flat cover 4 is bent at right angles to the rotating disk 114 and the hopper base 112 to form the lower guide 2. This amount of bending is slightly larger than the thickness of the coin. That is, it is larger than the thickness of one coin and smaller than the thickness of two coins.

The lower guide 2 includes a first guide piece 2X opposed to the mounting surface 116, a hopper base 112, and a mounting surface 116.
And a detection guide piece 2Z facing the hopper base 112. The first guide piece 2X and the guide piece 2Y are located on a straight line that descends toward the coin exit 136 with respect to the upper end surface 121S of the knife 121. First
The gap between the guide piece 2X and the guide piece 2Y is a passage 2S through which the pin 117 passes.

The upper surface of the first guide piece 2X is a first guide portion 2A having a straight, downwardly sloped surface that is substantially continuous with the tip upper surface 121S of the knife 121. The upper surface of the guide piece 2Y is a guide portion 2B that is linear and has the same inclination angle as the first guide surface 2A. The upper surface of the detection guide piece 2Z is linear and the first guide portion 2
The detection guide portion 2C is a lower left slope having a slightly smaller inclination angle than A.

The extension of the first guide 2A and the guide 2B intersects with the extension of the detection guide 2C. There is a step 6 having a height H between the guide 2B and the detection guide 2C. When the lower edge portion of the cover 4 is bent to form the first guide portion 2A, the guide portion 2B, and the detection guide portion 2C as in this embodiment, the flat plate can be formed by press working, so that it can be manufactured at low cost. Can be.

The thickness of the upper guide 3 depends on the thickness of the lower guide 2.
Is the same as the amount of bending. That is, it is larger than the thickness of one coin and smaller than two coins. The upper guide 3 is
A second guide portion 3A facing the first guide portion 2A and having a slightly larger inclination angle than the first guide portion 2A as a whole;
A concave concave guide portion 3B positioned relative to the first guide portion 2A and the guide portion 2B; a concave third guide portion 3C opposed to the guide portion 2B and continuous with the concave guide portion 3B; A substantially horizontal fourth guide portion 3D is formed continuously from 3C.

Therefore, the coin passage B is formed by a trapezoidal introduction passage B1 vertically divided by the first guide 2A and the second guide 3A, the first guide 2A, the guide 2B, and the concave guide 3B. Upper and lower partitioned drive path B2
A trapezoidal third passage B3 vertically divided by a guide 2B and a third guide 3C, and an exit passage B4 vertically divided by a detection guide 2C and a fourth guide 3D. Have been.

The exit end face of the exit passage B4 is the coin exit 1
36. As shown in FIG. 3, the coin passage B as a whole descends to the left toward the coin outlet 136, and is shaped like a sawtooth by the concave guide portion 3B and the third guide portion 3C. The thickness of the passage B is such that two coins do not overlap.

Next, the structure of the detection object C will be described. An arc-shaped long hole 4H is formed in the cover 4 at a position relative to the third guide portion 3C of the third passage B3. The arc-shaped long hole 4 </ b> H 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 side plates 11A and 11B are rotatably attached to the fixed shaft 10. The connection plate 11C is
It has a detection piece 14 that penetrates through H and projects into the third passage B3.

The lower end of the arc-shaped long hole 4H also serves as a stopper that engages with the detection piece 14 and stops the rotation of the detection piece 14. When the position of the detection piece 14 is regulated by the arc-shaped long hole 4H, the coin does not come into contact with the coin when passing through the third passage B3 when the coin hopper 101 is operating normally. The detection piece 14 is the minimum constituent unit of the detection object C. Note that a roller may be rotatably attached to the detection piece 14 to serve as a detection body.

Next, the structure of the direction changing device D will be described with reference to FIGS. The direction change device D includes a detection lever 11, a direction change lever 21, and a flexible connector E. A base of a direction change lever 21 is rotatably attached to the fixed shaft 10. The direction change lever 21 is formed of a plate material. The base of the direction changing lever 21 is formed in a channel shape in cross section, and the side walls 21A, 21A
B is rotatably mounted on the fixed shaft 10.

The tip of the direction changing lever 21 is located on the upstream side of the rotating disk 114 with respect to the count roller 133, and is formed in a downward triangle shape. This triangular portion is the direction changing body 23 and the mounting surface 1 of the rotating disk 114.
16S in the direction away from the plane including 16
have.

The detection lever 11 and the direction change lever 21 are connected by a flexible connecting body E, and the detection lever 11 and the direction change lever 21 rotate integrally under predetermined conditions, and only the detection lever 11 under predetermined conditions. It can be rotated. That is, the spring 12 which is an elastic body having the intermediate portion wound around the fixed shaft 10, one end hooked on the direction change lever 21, and the other end hooked on the upper surface of the connection plate 11 </ b> C is the flexible connector E. This elastic body may be rubber.

As a result, in FIG. 2, the turning lever 21 is given a rotational force in the clockwise direction with respect to the detection lever 11, and abuts against the stopper 11S of the detection lever 11 to form a straight line integral with the detection lever 11. I have. But,
After the direction change device D is turned clockwise and the tip of the direction change lever 21 comes into contact with the peripheral surface of the rotary disk 114, only the detection lever 11 can turn clockwise.

At this time, the detection lever 11 and the direction change lever 21 have a jack knife shape as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, but the direction change lever 21 has a predetermined value or more due to the urging force of the flexible connector E. Since the rotation force is continuously applied, the state of contact with the rotating disk 114 is continued.

The coin transport path F is
Is a path of coins conveyed by the coin. When the tip of the direction change lever 21 is in contact with the peripheral surface of the rotary disk 114, the push-up slope 23S is
Is located away from The cover 4 forms an inverted recess by fixing the crank-shaped support plate 25 with a screw or the like with the upper guide body 3 interposed therebetween, and the inverted recess is covered with the hopper base 112 and fixed. Reference numeral 4A is a viewing window formed in the cover 4 along the coin passage B.

Accordingly, since the lower end of the cover 4 is in a free state, the lower end and the upper end of the cover 4 of the exit passage B4 are attached to the hopper base 11 so as not to be deformed by coins.
The reinforcing plate 27 fixed by a screw to 2 is not deformed. Further, a tension spring 28 is hooked between the locking piece 27S protruding from the reinforcing plate 27 and the detection lever 11. As a result, the detecting object C, that is, the direction changing device D is constantly applied with a rotational force in the counterclockwise direction, and the detecting piece 14 is locked at the lower end of the arc-shaped long hole 4H.

When the detecting piece 14 is locked at the lower end of the arc-shaped long hole 4H, as shown in FIG. 3, the direction changing device D is stationary while being rotated most counterclockwise. That is, the direction change lever 21 is rotated by the urging force of the flexible connector E and locked by the stopper 11S, and the tip 23T of the direction change body 23 is located outside the coin transport path E. As a result, coins sent out on the placement surface 116 do not come into contact with the direction change body 23.

Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described. First, a case where the coin hopper 101 is operating normally will be described.
As described above, the detecting piece 14 is locked on the lower wall of the arc-shaped long hole 4H. The tip of the turning body 23 is
As shown in FIG. 3, since it is in the most rotated state in the clockwise direction, it is located at a position deviated from the coin transport path F.

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 turned
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 first guide portion 2A, the guide portion 2B, and the detection guide portion 2C sequentially to introduce the coin into the introduction passage B1.
And the drive passage B2, the third passage B3, and the outlet passage B4. Then, the coin is discharged from the coin exit 136.

Next, the operation of the abnormal state in which an unauthorized person closes the coin exit 136 by hand will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 5, the direction changing device D is in the state of being most rotated in the counterclockwise direction, but is in the state of being rotated in the most clockwise direction for convenience. When the coin exit 136 is closed, first, the first coin Z1 is moved to the third passage B3 and the fourth passage B4.
Stays over Next sent out second coin Z2
With the lower peripheral surface in contact with the guiding portion 2B, the leading coin Z1 is prevented from proceeding and stays in the third passage B3.

The third third coin Z3 is the first guide 2
It rolls over A and is prevented from proceeding by the leading second coin Z2, and stays in the drive path B2. Next, the fourth 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 toward the coin exit 136 along the drive path B2, and pushes the second coin Z2 at the front (FIG. 5). In the coin passage B, the coins travel in a line while the overlap in the thickness direction is regulated by the hopper base 112 and the cover 4.

The direction of the force F1 by which the third coin Z3 presses 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 F2 of the coin Z1 and the pressing force F1 of the third coin Z are applied to the second coin Z2.

Since the reaction force F2 and the pressing force F1 form an obtuse angle, the second coin Z2 has a third guide portion 3C.
A force F3 acting toward the side acts. Therefore, the second coin Z2
Is pushed out toward the detection piece 14. The movement of the pushed-out second coin Z2 is regulated by the wall that divides the third guide portion 3C and the detection piece 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 piece 14. As a result, the detection lever 11 is rotated clockwise. By the rotation of the detection lever 11,
The direction change lever 21 also rotates integrally.

The tip portion 23T of the direction changing member 23 advances into the coin carrying path F and comes into contact with the peripheral edge of the rotating disk 114. Thereafter, the fourth coin Z4 is pushed by the further rotation of the pin 117 after the second coin Z2 moves to the third guide portion 3C side. As a result, the fourth coin Z4 is prevented from proceeding by the third coin Z3.
Move to B side. (See FIG. 6) In this movement process, the fourth coin Z4 rotates between the count roller 133 in the clockwise direction and passes between the third coin Z3 and the count roller 133.

Thereafter, the count roller 133 returns to the original position by a spring force (not shown). Therefore, the fourth coin Z4 is supported by the third coin Z3 and the count roller 133, and is supported by the first guide portion 2A of the drive passage B2.
Is located on the concave guide portion 3B side away from the side. This allows
The detection lever 11 is further rotated clockwise to further deform the spring 12, which is a flexible connecting body, but the turning lever 21 continues to keep the turning body 23 in contact with the rotating disk 114. The coin counter 130 counts by moving the fourth coin Z4. Further, the fourth coin Z4 does not come into contact even when the pin 117 moves.

Further, the pin 117 is connected to the rotating disc 1
With the rotation of 14, the third coin Z3 is also contacted from below and slightly lifted. At this time, since the lower surface of the upper guide 3 is sufficiently separated from the guiding portion 2B, the third coin Z3 moves without being blocked. Therefore, the rotating disk 11
4 continues to rotate without any restraint. The movement of the third coin Z3 is performed every time the pin 117 passes.

When the turning body 23 is at the turning position in contact with the rotating disk 114, the coin mounting surface 11
The coin that has been pushed by the pin 117 on the 6 is engaged with the lifting slope 23 </ b> S of the turning body 23. The lifting slope 23 </ b> S has a slope (a slope in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface) that is away from the coin mounting surface 116 as the distance from the rotating disk 114 increases. Therefore, the upper end of the coin is separated from the coin mounting surface 116 by the lifting slope 23S, and is raised toward the coin bowl 119.

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, when the coin exit 136 is closed, the coin does not become jammed in the coin passage B. Further, when the force for pressing the first coin Z1 fluctuates, the first coin Z1 slightly protrudes from the coin exit 136, the position of the second coin Z2 is lowered, and the detection lever 11 rotates slightly counterclockwise. However, until the stopper 11S engages with the direction change lever 21 and moves integrally, the direction change body 23
Is in contact with the rotating disk 114, so that coins are not sent out to the coin passage B. In this example, 4
Since more than one coin is not released, there is an effect that does not intrigue.

The present invention can be modified in various ways.
The flexible connector E may have another structure as long as the detection lever and the direction change body move integrally in a predetermined range and only the detection lever moves in another predetermined range. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the direction change device D may be integrally formed by connecting the detection lever 11 and the direction change lever 21 with the leaf spring 30. That is, the leaf spring 30 is the flexible connector E.

As shown in FIG. 8, the detection lever 11 and the direction change lever 21 are rotatably mounted on the fixed shaft 10, and the permanent magnets 31A and 31B fixed to the detection lever 11 and the direction change lever 21, respectively. May be attracted. In this case, the permanent magnets 31A and 31B are a flexible connector E. Of course, the flexible connector E can also be configured using the repulsive force of the permanent magnet. In addition, you may comprise a flexible connection body using a weight.

The coin delivery device may be a rotating disk having a coin passage hole. Further, the detection body may be engaged with the side surface of the coin to detect the stagnation of the coin.

[0058]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a state where a coin bowl of an embodiment is removed.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a main part of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of a cover according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an operation in an abnormal state according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an operation in an abnormal state according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is another example of a flexible connector.

FIG. 8 is another example of a flexible connector.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a game machine having a built-in coin hopper.

FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a conventional coin hopper.

[0059]

[Explanation of symbols]

 Feeding device A Coin path B Detector C Flexible connector E Guidance unit 2B Detection guide unit 2C Step 6 Spring 12 Direction change unit 23 Coin exit 136

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A coin feeding device (A), a coin passage (B) through which coins sent from the feeding device (A) pass, and a detection guide unit for guiding coins passing through the coin passage (B).
(2C), a detection object (C) arranged near the detection guide portion (2C), and a coin transport passage (F) upstream of the detection guide portion (2C) in conjunction with the detection object (C). A coin hopper comprising: a turning body (23) protruding from the main body; and a flexible connecting body (E) connecting the detecting body (C) and the turning body (23). 2. The coin hopper according to claim 1, wherein the detection guide section (2C) is located downstream of the guide section (2B) and has a step (6) with the guide section (2B). 3. The coin hopper according to claim 1, wherein the detection guide section (2C) is located immediately before the coin exit (136) in the coin path (B). 4. The flexible connector (E) is an elastic member (12, 30).
4. The coin hopper according to claim 1, wherein