JP2002263257A - Charged medal screening device for game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a charged medal screening device for a game machine capable of efficiently screening medals by size by providing a passage inclined to the medal thickness direction, with a bottom surface of the passage inclined in the same inclination direction, in screening medals of proper size from improper smaller medals. SOLUTION: An inclined passage 23 for screening medals is provided for a medal charged into a charging port 12 to be inclined in the medal thickness direction to pass, rolling. In a side wall 22 on the lower side of inclination of the inclined passage 23, a discharge port 36 to discharge medals, etc., which do not meet standards is opened. A bottom surface of the inclined passage 23 corresponding to the discharge port 36 is provided on an inclined bottom surface 46 inclined in the inclination direction in the same direction as the inclined passage 23. The medals are thus correctly rolled sideways to be discharged.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a medal selection device for a gaming machine such as a slot machine used as one of popular entertainment, and more particularly, to a small-diameter medal or a circulation coin which is not applicable. The present invention relates to an inserted medal selection device for a gaming machine that can be efficiently returned with a simple configuration in the case where the device is used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, this kind of medal (coin) selection device has a medal rolling passage inclined obliquely downward from a vertical direction inward of an insertion slot as shown in JP-A-8-24434. When the medals pass through this path, they are rolled under their own weight and conveyed, and the medals are sorted according to their appropriate size and unsuitable size to perform a loading process and a returning process.

In this case, a detection lever (protrusion member) for detecting the passage of medals, which can freely come and go from one side, is provided in the medal rolling passage.
Is projected, and when a medal of an appropriate size is inserted, the medal is taken in along the passage while pushing down the detection lever.

On the other hand, when an inappropriate medal with a small diameter is inserted, only the lower side of the medal standing in the rolling path is guided because of the small diameter, and the upper side is not guided in a free state. When a small-diameter medal corresponds to the detection lever that protrudes from one side, the medal is pushed out to the other side and laid down, and a small-diameter medal is dropped and ejected from the discharge opening that opens greatly to the other side. And returned to the return port below.

[0005]

The elimination mechanism for excluding such a small-diameter medal which is not applicable in the process of taking in a small-diameter medal is a detection lever which moves with high sensitivity and requires fine adjustment, and a spring and a lever for holding the lever. The need for a sensor device for detecting the hammering operation increases the number of parts and the number of assembling steps, resulting in an increase in cost.

Furthermore, since medals are frequently inserted one by one into the slot of the gaming machine, the detection lever is liable to deteriorate and the detection performance is apt to deteriorate. If the operation of the detection lever that moves with high sensitivity deteriorates, and the movement of this detection lever deteriorates, the resistance when passing the medals increases, which may cause clogging of the medals, or may take in small-diameter medals to be eliminated. there were.

[0007] This type of medal selection device includes mechanical selection means for performing selection processing according to the size of medals, and material detection means for electronically selecting the material of medals and having a mechanism for preventing the hanging of a thread of medals. Therefore, it takes time for the selected medals to pass through the medal selection device.

For this reason, when a plurality of medals are successively inserted into the slot machine, it takes time to count all the medals, and the player starts the game unexpectedly before all the medals are counted. In such a case, counting may be incorrectly performed. For example, even if two medals are placed and started, erroneous counting occurs due to the phenomenon that the medals are continuously captured and only one medal is counted (medal swallowing). Therefore, the player may be disadvantaged, and the apparatus itself becomes large due to the necessity of a complicated elimination mechanism, which necessitates an increase in the size of the apparatus. For this reason, it is conceivable to simplify the internal structure. However, at present, there is a limit in maintaining and simplifying the medal selection performance.

In view of the above, according to the present invention, when selecting medals, the passage is inclined with respect to the thickness direction of the medals, and the bottom of the passage is provided to be inclined in the same inclination direction. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine insertion medal selection device capable of performing a game.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, the size of a medal inserted into an insertion slot is selected, and a medal of an appropriate size is received and guided and taken into the inside, and medals of an inappropriate size are removed. A medal sorting device for a gaming machine having sorting guide means for ejecting guide and returning to an external return port,
An inclined passage for selecting medals is provided from which the medals are inclined in the direction of the thickness of the medals and rolled through the medals introduction passages perpendicular to the slot, and medals which are not applicable are discharged to the inclined lower side wall of the inclined passages. A discharge port is provided, and a bottom surface of the inclined passage corresponding to the discharge port is provided on an inclined bottom surface inclined in the same inclination direction as the inclined passage.

As a result, when a medal of an appropriate size is inserted, the medal rolls in the take-in direction along the inclined passage and is guided by its own weight. On the other hand, when an inappropriate medal with a small diameter is inserted, only the bottom side is guided because the medal rolling in the standing state is small in diameter, and the top side of the medal is not guided. Further, since the inclined bottom surface of the inclined passage is inclined in the same inclination direction, the medals in the upright state are conveyed while being naturally inclined by receiving the inclination effect of the inclined bottom surface in addition to the overall inclination effect of the inclined passage, At the time corresponding to the discharge port, it falls down and is surely discharged from the inclined passage to the discharge port on the lower side of the slope.

As described above, the medals in the rolling and conveying process are provided in such a manner that the medals themselves are inclined in the thickness direction of the medals by their own weight, and have a role of tilting the medals naturally. As a result, a medal elimination function is provided in which the small-diameter medals to be eliminated are accurately tilted and ejected, so that even if the medals to be eliminated are taken in at a high speed so that the rolling speed of the medals is increased, the medals to be eliminated are captured during the process. It can be reliably eliminated.

In particular, since the inclined passage and the inclined bottom surface play a proper role of an exclusion function in combination with each other, a high-performance sorting effect can be obtained with a simplified and simple configuration. As a result, a complicated elimination mechanism can be omitted, the number of parts can be reduced, and a medal sorting device with reduced assembly man-hours and reduced cost can be realized.

When the inclination angle of the inclined bottom surface is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, if the inclination angle is small, the tilting effect acting on the medal is small, and the tilting function cannot be sufficiently obtained.
Conversely, if the inclination angle of the inclined bottom surface is too large, only the contact area with the medal bottom surface is reduced, and the medal tilting function does not change. Therefore, the inclination angle of the inclined bottom surface is 20 to 60 ° with respect to the horizontal plane. The degree is suitable.

When a tiltable space for medals corresponding to the inclined bottom surface is formed in the bottom portion of the inclined passage, a tiltable space for tilting the standing medals is secured. The medal naturally tilts within the allowable space, and a smooth side-down action is obtained.

Here, a medal of an appropriate size is a regular medal having a disk shape of a certain size provided exclusively for use of a game, and a medal of an inappropriate size is a regular medal. These are circulation coins smaller in diameter than large medals and counterfeit medals with large diameters.

The inclination in the thickness direction of the medals is an inclination angle at which the tumbling action of the medals rolling on the passage naturally occurs due to the weight of the medals themselves, and is set to an inclination angle in consideration of the combination with the projections. . At this time, if the inclination angle is too small, the overturning effect tends to be delayed, and if the inclination angle is too large, the rolling load for a proper medal increases.
° is preferable.

The selection guide means forms a part of an inclined passage, and carries out a medal receiving guide position for guiding a medal of an appropriate size to be transported, and discharges medals of an inappropriate size to the discharge port. It can be configured with a movable guide plate that is movably switched to the medal acceptance restricted position.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The drawing shows a slotted medal selection device of a slot machine installed in a game hall. In FIG. 1, the slot machine 11 opens an slot 12 for receiving medals M one by one on one side of a front game operation surface,
The regular-sized medals inserted into the insertion port 12 are taken in, and medals of an inappropriate size are returned to the external return port 1.
It has a built-in sorting function to return to 3. Also, input port 1
A return button 14 is provided next to 2 and the medal M is returned to the return port 13 even when the player presses the return button 14 to stop the game.

FIG. 2 shows the inner surface of the slot machine 11 in which the front door 15 is opened in a one-sided manner. The opened slot machine body 11a has a reel 16 on the upper side and a medal take-in on the lower side. Hopper 17, a medal return passage (not shown), and a power supply device 18.

On the other hand, a reel cover 19, an inserted medal selection device (medal selector) 20, and a return slot 13 are arranged in this order on the inner surface of the front door 15 side.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the inserted medal selection device 20.
In the inserted medal selection device 20, a U-shaped substrate 21 and an opening / closing plate 22 are integrally combined to form a medal passage 23 for inserted medal selection, and the outside thereof is covered with a U-shaped cover 24 and integrally formed. I have.

The above-mentioned medal passage 23 is connected to the upper slot 1
A vertical path 23a between the inlet 25 and the lower outlet 26, which correspond to the connection 2 and a sloping path 23b which is gently inclined from the vertical path 23a.
And are connected to each other.

A movable protrusion 27 for stably lowering the medals, which protrudes horizontally from the rear side toward the passage side, protrudes from the U-shaped substrate 21 of the vertical path 23a.
As shown in FIG. 5, the spring is lightly urged by a spring 28 from the rear and is held in a protruding state.

The movable protruding piece 27 is pivotally supported on an upper pivotal support 29 at a pivot point.
Under the urging force of the spring 28, it is projected from the small window 30 of the U-shaped substrate 21 toward the vertical path 23a side, and when the inserted medal M vigorously passes downward from above,
It is pushed by the medal M and retreats substantially horizontally in the passage evacuation direction,
The inserted medal M is allowed to pass as it is.

In this case, the passage is preferably a wide passage in order to enhance the passage of medals, but on the other hand, medals tend to be easily clogged. In such a case as well, the projecting action of the movable protruding piece 27 allows the medals M guided and descended to move toward one side of the vertical path 23a in the medal thickness direction, thereby eliminating clogging. A stable passage can be formed. Particularly, it is suitable when applied to a curved passage.

Further, since the movable protruding piece 27 can be decelerated in contact with the medal M descending vigorously, the medal is conveyed after the direction is changed from the vertical path 23a descending at a high speed to the inclined path 23b rolling at a low speed. The speed difference of M can be reduced, and a stable medal taking-in operation can be performed.

Further, the movable projection 27 also has a thread hanging medal prevention function. This thread-hanging medal prevention function protrudes at a lower position with reference to the position of the upper pivotal support 29 that supports the movable projection 27. For this reason, even if you try to pull back upwards using a thread hanging medal,
Since the movable protruding piece 27 is pivotally supported in a state where its position is regulated by the upper pivotal support 29, the movable protruding piece 27 moves in the horizontal direction but does not move in the vertical direction, so that the upward pullback operation using the thread hanging medal can be performed. It can be reliably prevented.

Next, a movable guide plate 31 which forms a part of the upper side of the passage is arranged on the side of the U-shaped substrate 21 of the slope 23b in parallel with the slope 23b. An inverted L-shaped movable guide plate 3 is provided at the top of the medal M which moves and passes.
The transport guide is performed in step 1. A pair of passage detection sensors S1 and S2 are provided immediately before the exit 26 of the ramp 23b, and the medals M passed by these sensors S1 and S2 are arranged.
Count the number of

Further, on the inner surface of the medal passage 23 of the U-shaped substrate 21, a plurality of parallel ribs 32 projecting from the vertical path 23a to the inclined path 23b are formed at equal intervals.
By providing these ribs 32,...
3, the medal M inserted with an uneven surface is taken in with the outer surface of the medal being in line contact with the top of the rib 32 in the space of the medal passage 23, and the contact area with the medal is reduced. Reduces the passing resistance of inserted medals and promotes high-speed and smooth transport. Further, the shape of the rib is set to a shape that reduces the passing resistance of the medal.

On one side of the above-mentioned medal passage 23, there is provided a guide structure in which an opening / closing plate 22, which will be described later, faces the U-shaped substrate 21 to form one side of the passage 23.

The opening / closing plate 22 is provided with a shaft 34 which is supported by a bearing 33 of the U-shaped substrate 21, and is mounted on the bearing 33 of the U-shaped substrate 21 so as to be rotatable about the shaft 34. The open / close plate 22 is urged and integrated by the spring 35 so that a part of the open / close plate 22 abuts on the U-shaped substrate 21, and a medal passage 23 is formed between the two.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the opening / closing plate 22 has an oval discharge port 36 which opens along the inclined path 23b of the medal passage 23, and has a large opening at the center. This opening / closing plate 22 is mounted on the U-shaped inner surface of the U-shaped substrate 21 to form a medal passage 23, where a medal M1 not applicable (small diameter)
Is discharged from the discharge port 36 when is guided.

As shown in FIG. 6, on the inner surface of the opening / closing plate 22, a plurality of similar ribs in the same direction as the ribs 32 on the U-shaped substrate 21 are provided on the surface facing the vertical path 23a of the U-shaped substrate 21. The ribs 37 are formed.

Therefore, in the medal passage 23, the medals M receive the line contact action of the ribs 32, 37 on both surfaces, thereby further reducing the passing resistance of the inserted medals and promoting smooth conveyance.

Next, the inclination of the medal passage 23 will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, the medal passage 23 has one passage space for taking in the medal M in an upright state.
In addition, the medals in the upright state are provided at an angle of about 15 ° with respect to the thickness direction.

The tilt angle is set so that the opening / closing plate 22 is inclined downward, and the medals M rolled and transported in the medal passage 23 are transported in a state of being tilted toward the inclined downward opening / closing plate 22 side. . As a result, when an inappropriate medal with a small diameter is inserted, only the bottom side is guided in the medal passage 23 due to the small diameter in the medal passage 23 at the time of rolling, and the movable guide plate 31 is moved to the top side.
Rolls without contacting the top and the top side is not guided. For this reason, the medals begin to tilt downward due to their own weight in the direction of the thickness of the medals.
It is discharged sideways to 6.

In discharging the above-mentioned medals not applicable,
In addition to tilting the medal passage 23 in the medal thickness direction, as shown in FIG. 8, the terminal end side of the rib 32 of the inclined path 23 b of the inclined upper U-shaped substrate 21 facing the discharge port 36 is
An inclined protrusion 38 is formed to gradually increase the amount of protrusion along the medal passing direction and to protrude the medal.

For this reason, as shown in FIG. 9A, when an inappropriate unsuitable medal M1 having a small diameter reaches the position of the inclined protrusion 38, the inclined protrusion 38 rolls from the side of the medal that passes through. As shown in FIG. 9 (B), the protruding medals M1 in the standing state passing therethrough are greatly inclined, and at the time corresponding to the inclined projections 38, the medals M1 which are not applicable are moved from the ramp 23b. It can be surely turned over and discharged to the inclined lower discharge port 36.

As described above, the medal passage 23 having the role of tilting the medal in the rolling conveyance process in the thickness direction of the medal by its own weight and naturally lying down, and the inclined protrusion 38 having the role of pushing the medal in the thickness direction. By combining the above, a medal elimination function of properly tilting and ejecting the small-diameter non-applicable medals M1 to be eliminated is obtained.

Further, if the discharge action cannot be sufficiently ensured only by the inclination angle of the passage, even if the rolling speed of the medals is increased and the inertial force of the medals is increased, the fetching speed should be eliminated. The medals can be reliably eliminated during the process.

On the other hand, when a regular-sized medal M is inserted, the standing upper and lower portions of the medal M roll along the path while being guided, and are taken in the regular taking-in direction leading to the outlet 26. Be included.

The inclination ratio in the thickness direction of the above-mentioned medals is suitable for the inclination angle at which the tumbling action of the medals rolling on the passage is naturally performed by its own weight.
The inclination angle is set in consideration of the combination with the angle 8. At this time, if the inclination angle is too small, the overturning effect tends to be delayed, and if the inclination angle is too large, the rolling load on a proper medal increases, so that it is about 10 ° to 20 °, preferably 15 °.
° position is suitable.

Further, the player can operate the player to return the inserted medals or discharge the clogged foreign matter. As shown in FIG. 7, when the player presses the return button 14, this return operation rotates the rotatable cam 39 which is rotatably supported below the depressed return button 14. Then, the tip of the rotating cam 39 moves so as to push up the opening / closing plate 22, and in conjunction with this, the opening / closing plate 22 rotates about the shaft 34 and greatly opens between the opposing surfaces with the U-shaped substrate 21. In addition, clogged medals and foreign matter can be eliminated in the exclusion direction.

Further, when the preparation of the gaming hall is not completed or the slot machine is not in operation, even if the inserted medals are regular medals, acceptance is rejected and the return port 1 is not accepted.
3 has a built-in reception control mechanism 40.

As shown in FIG. 10, the reception restricting mechanism 40 is provided with a shaft supporting portion 41 for rotatably supporting the movable guide plate 31 described above at a rear wall surface on the back side of the U-shaped substrate 21.
An inverted L-shaped movable guide plate 31 is attached to the shaft support portion 41 as a common rotation fulcrum, and the distal end of the movable guide plate 31 is ejected from the back side of the U-shaped substrate 21 to the opening / closing plate 22 straddling the medal passage 23. In a state facing the exit 36 side, it is interposed for a medal top guide.

When the solenoid 42 disposed on the back side of the U-shaped substrate 21 is turned ON / OFF, the movable guide plate 3 connected to the solenoid 42 via the tilting lever 43 is operated.
1 is moved up and down to switch between a medal acceptance restriction state at the upper movement position and a medal acceptance state at the lower movement position.

When the above-mentioned solenoid 42 is turned on,
Excitation works, and the tip of the movable guide plate 31 moves as shown in FIG.
As shown in (A), the top of the medal moves along the medal passage 23 to the downward movement position for guiding the medal, and the medal is accepted. In the medal passage 23 in the receiving state, the lower portion is formed between the opposing surfaces of the opening / closing plate 22 and the U-shaped substrate 21 and the bottom plate 44 of a metal material excellent in abrasion resistance positioned between the opening / closing plate 22 and the U-shaped substrate 21. A groove is formed, and the upper part is a movable guide plate 31.
A concave groove for passing the rolling of medals is formed between the opposing surfaces of the substrate and the U-shaped substrate 21.

On the other hand, when the solenoid 42 is turned off, as shown in FIG. 10B, the return operation of the return spring 45 attached to the tilt lever 43 works, and the movable guide plate 31 is moved via the tilt lever 43. Pull in the direction of the groove opening,
The pivotal support 41 is pivoted about the fulcrum, and at this time, one side of the upper concave groove forming the medal passage 23 is opened to enter a medal acceptance restricted state in which the medal passage is opened for exclusion. The medals are moved sideways one by one and eliminated.

The bottom plate 44 provided on the lower bottom surface of the medal passage 23 is provided long along the slope 23b, and the upper surface of the bottom plate 44 is placed on the medal passage 23 as shown in FIGS. It is provided on the inclined bottom surface 46 inclined at a constant inclination angle θ in the same inclination direction.

By providing such an inclined bottom surface 46, the inclined bottom surface 46 is inclined in the same inclination direction as the medal passage 23. The medal itself is conveyed while being subjected to the tilting action of the inclined bottom surface 46, and falls down in the direction in which it is opened at the time corresponding to the discharge port 36, and is reliably inclined downward from the ramp 23b. It is discharged to 36.

As described above, the medals in the rolling and conveying process are inclined in the thickness direction of the medals by the weight of the medals themselves, and in addition to the inclined passage having the function of causing the medals to fall down naturally, the bottom surface 46 is further inclined in the same direction. With this arrangement, it is possible to obtain a medal rejection function for properly tilting the medal and ejecting the medal. Even if a high-speed loading is performed such that the rolling speed of the medal is increased, the medal M1 to be excluded is excluded in the process of capturing. It can be reliably eliminated.

In particular, since the inclined road 23b and the inclined bottom surface 46 work together in a proper exclusion function, a high-performance sorting effect can be obtained with a simplified and simple configuration. As a result, a complicated elimination mechanism can be omitted, the number of parts can be reduced, and a medal sorting device with reduced assembly man-hours and reduced cost can be realized.

When the inclination angle θ of the inclined bottom surface 46 is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, if the inclination angle θ is small, the tilting action acting on the medal decreases, and the tilting function for the medal cannot be sufficiently obtained. Conversely, if the inclination angle θ of the inclined bottom surface is too large, only the contact area with the medal bottom surface is reduced, and the medal tilting function is not changed. ~ 60 °
The degree is suitable.

In this case, since the medal passage 23 itself is already inclined by 15 ° from the horizontal plane, when setting the inclination angle θ of the inclined bottom surface 46, the angle of inclination of the medal passage 23 including the inclination angle of 15 ° is considered as 20-60. Set so that it has an inclination of °.

As shown in FIG. 13, the ramp 23b
A medal tilting allowable space 47 corresponding to the slanted bottom surface 46 is formed in the U-shaped substrate 21 side by notching.

In this case, the tiltable space 47 is secured when the medal M in the upright state tilts.
When the medal is tilted, the medal bottom corner 48 is not caught in the tilt allowable space 47, so that the medal naturally tilts and a smooth side-down action is obtained.

In addition, the above-described 2 for detecting the passage of a medal
The two pass detection sensors S1 and S2 have the same detection structure, and are arranged on the rear side of the U-shaped substrate 21 corresponding to one side of the medal passage 23 to reduce the size of the detection structure.

In the figure, L1 is an upper inclined line indicating the tilt start position in the direction of the thickness of the medals, L2 is a lower inclined line indicating the end position of the inclination in the direction of the medals thickness, P is a mounting pin of the U-shaped substrate 21, and K1 is a cover mounting. The engagement projection, K2, indicates a cover attachment engagement recess.

The selection processing operation of the inserted medal selection device 20 configured as described above will be described below. When the player inserts a medal into the slot 12 while the slot machine 11 is in an operation state capable of accepting the medal M, the inserted medal is guided to the inner medal passage 23 by its own weight, and is used as an introduction passage. From the vertical path 23a to the inclined path 23b that rolls at a low speed while being rolled up while standing.

At this time, when a medal M of a regular size is inserted, the medal M is accepted as it is and taken inward one by one. In this case, when the regular medal M is rolled and guided in the taking-in direction, the medal outer surface is not in surface contact but is taken in a line contact state in which only the ribs 32 and 37 are in contact, so that the contact area with the medal M is obtained. And a smooth conveyance guide effect can be obtained by reducing the medal passing resistance.

The ribs 32 and 37 are formed to be long in the direction of the passage along the inner surface of the medal passage 23 communicating with the insertion slot to form an uneven surface, and secure a space between the rib and the outer surface of the medal to secure the medal. In order to avoid contact resistance, even if medals are frequently inserted into the insertion slot and the inside of the passage is soiled, or if the inner surface of the passage is scraped and resin dust is generated, the influence of dirt and resin dust is suppressed. Medal clogging can be reduced, and stable transport guide performance can be maintained.

The number of sheets taken in is counted by the passage detection sensors S1 and S2 near the exit 26, and the counted value is transmitted to a control unit (not shown) for data management.
Further, the two passage detection sensors S1 and S2 are arranged in order along the ramp 23b near the exit 26 of the medal passage 23, and an abnormal operation is caused by the ON / OFF sequence and time change of each sensor S1 and S2. Can be accurately detected, so that a fraudulent act using a thread hanging medal or the like can be accurately detected.

On the other hand, when the inapplicable medal M1 such as a small-diameter circulation coin is intentionally or erroneously inserted, the inapplicable medal on the movable guide plate 31 because the upper side of the inapplicable medal M1 standing up at the time of rolling passes has a small diameter. The upper side of M1 is not guided, and the medal passage 23 itself not only inclines in the transport direction, but also inclines by about 15 ° in the thickness direction of the medal, and further protrudes from the wall surface of the U-shaped substrate 21 on the inclined upper side. Since the inclined projections 38 for promoting the medal tilting protrude from the sides of the medals that roll and pass, the unapplied medals M1 in the standing state that have reached here are inclined more rapidly than this, and the inclined projections 3
At the time point corresponding to 8, the inapplicable medal M1 having a small diameter to be eliminated falls down from the ramp 23b without fail and the lower discharge port 3 is inclined.
It falls naturally to 6 and is discharged.

In particular, since the inclined bottom surface 46 of the medal passage 23 is inclined in the same inclination direction as the medal passage 23, the standing medals are inclined not only by the inclined road 23b but also by the inclined passage 23b. In response to this, the medal M is conveyed while being inclined naturally, falls down at the time corresponding to the discharge port, and is reliably discharged from the ramp 23b to the discharge port 36 on the lower side of the slope.

As described above, the medals in the rolling and conveying process are provided in such a manner that the medals themselves are inclined in the thickness direction of the medals by their own weight, and the bottom surface thereof is inclined in the same direction in addition to the inclined passage having the function of naturally lying down. As a result, a medal elimination function of properly tilting and ejecting the small-diameter medals M1 having a small diameter to be eliminated can be obtained. It can be reliably eliminated during the loading process.

As described above, when a medal of an appropriate size is inserted, the medal rolls along the medal path in the take-in direction by its own weight and is guided. When a medal is inserted, the inapplicable medals that roll in the upright state are guided only on the bottom side because the diameter is small, and the top side is not guided. In addition, the inclined protrusion protruding upward on the inclined surface contacts the side surface of the medal that passes through the rolling, so that the medal can be largely inclined. In addition, the medal can be rolled while being inclined by the inclined bottom surface. At the time corresponding to the discharge port opposite to the above, the medal is surely dropped from the medal passage to the discharge port on the lower side of the medal and discharged.

As described above, the medals which are rolled and conveyed while standing up are transported while tilting in the thickness direction of the medals by their own weight and having the role of causing the medals to naturally fall down. By combining with the inclined bottom surface having a role, a function of properly tilting and ejecting a small-diameter non-applicable medal to be eliminated by the inclination of the passage and the projection itself can be obtained. For this reason, when a small-diameter non-applicable medal is inserted into the insertion slot, it can be reliably eliminated in the capturing process. In particular, since the small inclined bottom surface accurately plays a role of an exclusion function in combination with the medal passage, a complicated exclusion mechanism can be omitted and the number of parts can be reduced,
It is possible to realize an inserted medal selection device with a small number of assembly steps and low cost.

In the correspondence between the structure of the present invention and the structure of the above-described embodiment, the passage of the present invention corresponds to the medal passage 23 of the embodiment. Corresponding to the plate 31, the medal introduction passage,
Although the inclined path corresponds to the vertical path 23a, the inclined path corresponds to the inclined path 23b, the inclined lower side wall corresponds to the opening / closing plate 22, and the inclined upper side wall corresponds to the U-shaped substrate 21. The present invention can be applied based on the technical concept described in the claims, and is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment.

[0070]

According to the present invention, since the inclined bottom surface accurately functions as an elimination function in combination with the inclined passage, a complicated elimination mechanism can be omitted to reduce the number of parts and reduce the number of assembly steps. It is possible to realize an inserted medal selection device that achieves cost reduction.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a slot machine.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an inner surface state of the inserted medal sorting device with a front door opened.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part showing the inserted medal selection device.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the inserted medal selection device.

FIG. 5 is a rear view showing the driving side of the U-shaped substrate.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a state in which a rib of the opening / closing plate is formed.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a medal passage.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which ribs and inclined projections of a U-shaped substrate are formed.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a state in which medals are eliminated on the side of the ribs and the inclined projections of the U-shaped substrate.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a closed state and an open state of the movable guide plate.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an inclined state of a bottom plate.

FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view of a main part showing a tilted state of a bottom plate.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a main part showing a tilted state of a medal.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Slot machine 12 ... Input port 13 ... Return port 20 ... Input medal sorting apparatus 21 ... U-shaped board 22 ... Opening / closing plate 23 ... Medal path 23a ... Vertical path 23b ... Inclined path 31 ... Movable guide plate 36 ... Discharge port 44 Bottom plate 46 ... Slope bottom surface 47 ... Tilt allowable space M ... Medal M1 ... Not applicable medal θ ... Tilt angle

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Takanori Oka 801 Minami-Fudo-cho, Higashi-iri, Horikawa, Shiokoji-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto Within Omron Corporation (72) Inventor Hiroki Okuda 6-51 Yurakucho, Handa-shi, Aichi Prefecture (72) Inventor Shunji Mori 46 Nogoshi Nogoshi, Okumachi, Ichinomiya City, Aichi Prefecture OMRON Ichinomiya Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 3E002 AA01 BA01 BA04 EA01

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A method for selecting the size of medals inserted into an insertion slot, receiving and guiding medals of an appropriate size to the inside, guiding ejection of medals of an inappropriate size to an external return port. A medal selection device for a gaming machine provided with a selection guide means for returning to a game machine, wherein a medal selection inclined passage for inclining medals in a direction perpendicular to the medal introduction passage of the insertion opening and rolling and passing the medals in a thickness direction. A discharge port for discharging unapplicable medals is provided on a lower side wall of the inclined passage, and a bottom surface of the inclined passage corresponding to the discharge port is inclined in the same inclination direction as the inclined passage. A medal sorting device for gaming machines installed on the inclined bottom surface. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inclination angle of the inclined bottom surface is set to 20 to 60 ° with respect to a horizontal plane.
A medal selection device for a gaming machine described in the above. 3. A tiltable space for medals corresponding to the inclined bottom surface is formed in a bottom portion of the inclined passage.
A medal selection device for a gaming machine described in the above.