JP2002539871A - game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] The game machine 1 has a play field 2, which is divided into four quadrants. The game machine has a coin ejection device 3 for ejecting articles such as coins and substitute coins to the play field 2, a position encoder for detecting articles introduced into the play field, and a wiper for wiping articles from the play field. Having means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a game machine, and more particularly to a game machine operated by coins. Target.

[0002]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a coin discharging device including a coin insertion unit connected to a coin checking unit, a coin discharging unit, and a launching mechanism, wherein the coin recognized by the coin checking unit reaches a coin stacking holder, and the coin is discharged. Means are provided for pushing the lowest coin out of the stacked coins to the coin discharge runway, and the firing mechanism collides with the edge of the coin on the coin runway and drives the coin along the runway. And a coin discharging device for discharging coins.

According to such a configuration of the present invention, valid coins are stacked in layers, and each coin is guided to a certain surface, for example, a runway to be discharged to a play field forming a part of a game machine.

[0004] Preferably, the coin checking unit is provided with a first sensor for detecting whether or not a coin has been inserted, and determines whether or not a coin exists in the coin lane on the coin lane. A second sensor for detecting is provided, and the coin insertion means is provided with the first sensor.
It is automatically controlled based on signals from the sensor and the second sensor. In this manner, the supply of coins to the track by the insertion means is automated, and the user can easily control the ejection of coins along the track.

[0005] Preferably, the discharging means includes a support for supporting the coin layer,
The support is slidable between a first position for supporting a coin layer thereon and a second position where the coin layer is supported by another support below. When the platform moves from the first position to the second position, the coin layer falls on the lower support, and when the support moves from the second position to the first position, the coin layer The coin at the bottom of the layer is pushed by the support so as to rest on the coin ejection track. With such a simple configuration, individual coins can be supplied to the track.

[0006] Preferably, the firing mechanism includes a hammer at an end of the runway for colliding with an edge of a coin that is overhanging. Also, the hammer is manually pulled back against the biasing force of the spring and subsequently released to collide with the coin. More preferably, the hammer is held in any one of a plurality of retracted positions by a ratchet mechanism, and the ratchet mechanism is released to release the hammer.

The present invention further provides a coin operated machine provided with a plurality of the above-described coin ejection devices and a single manual controller for simultaneously operating a firing mechanism of each coin ejection device. are doing. The machine is preferably provided with two coin ejectors. This machine is also used with a divided play surface for a game machine such as a game center.

According to another aspect, the present invention is a coin magazine for a coin ejection device, comprising: a coin holder for holding a coin layer; and a support base for supporting the coin layer. The support is slidable between a first position for supporting a coin layer thereon and a second position where the coin layer is supported by another support below.
When the support moves from the first position to the second position, the coin layer falls on the lower support, and when the support moves from the second position to the first position, The coin at the bottom of the coin layer is pushed by the support to provide a coin magazine to be placed on the coin discharge track.

According to this aspect, the present invention includes means for stacking coins in layers, and individual coins are supplied to the track for coin ejection.

According to another aspect, the present invention is an article holding apparatus provided with a means for wiping an article, comprising: a sheet supporting a plurality of article rows; Has at least one opening formed therein, through which the article can pass, wherein the sweeper arm is provided in sliding contact with the planar body, and the sweeper arm is moved by relative movement between the planar body and the sweeper arm. A sweeper arm wipes at least a portion of the surface of the planar body, and the sweeper arm has at least one U-shaped or V-shaped recess formed at a leading surface in the wiping operation, and the recess is formed in the planar shape. A top portion that passes directly over one or more openings formed in the body, and the relative movement between the sweeper arm and the planar body causes the wiping direction and a direction perpendicular to the wiping direction. The article on the planar body is wiped in the direction of the top of the recess, and the article is held in the recess until the top passes through the opening, and the article passes through the opening when the top passes through the opening. An article holding device is provided.

According to this configuration, it is possible to provide a method of effectively wiping a game article such as a coin from a moving surface such as a play field forming a part of the game machine. Here, the coin means a substitute coin or other similar article.

The relative movement between the planar body and the sweeper arm may be performed by a combination of a movable play field and a fixed sweeper arm, a combination of a fixed play field and a movable sweeper arm, or a combination of a play field and a sweeper arm. Can be realized by making both movable. In one embodiment, the sheet is a rotatable circular play field, wherein at least two, preferably four,
Equally spaced radially extending sweeper arms are provided.

According to another aspect, the invention is an article holding device comprising a sheet and a position encoder, the sheet defining a target field having a plurality of rows of target areas, The position encoder has a plurality of sensors, and the target field and the respective sensors are in a relatively moving relationship. As a result, an article introduced into the target field is detected by one of the sensors, and the position encoder has a periodicity. While performing a typical count, while referring to the count value held by the counter, it is configured to determine whether or not the article detected by a certain sensor is within the target area on the target field Article holding device.

With such a configuration, it is possible to accurately determine the position of an article such as a coin or a substitute coin on a target area forming a part of the play field of the game machine, and to detect that the coin is on the target area. You have won the game. After the prize is legally recognized, the game machine is given a necessary game license.

[0015] Preferably, the position encoder comprises a microprocessor for maintaining a count, and a memory for storing a look-up table associated with the processor, wherein one sensor maps the count value to the position of the target field. It is determined whether the detected article is within any one target area on the target field.

[0016] Also preferably, each sensor is provided in association with at least one optimal look-up table, the look-up table surrounding each target area that can pass through the detection area of the sensor with respect to the count value. It defines the limits.

[0017] Also preferably, when determining the position of the article on the target field with reference to the look-up table, the microprocessor applies a correction factor to determine the position of the article per target time between the target field and the respective sensor. To compensate for changes in the relative speed of

Preferably, a counter of the position encoder is periodically reset in accordance with a relative positional relationship between the target field and each sensor.

Preferably, each sensor is a conductive field sensor.

The relative movement between the planar body and each sensor may be a combination of a movable play field and one or more immovable sensors, or a non-movable play field and a movable sensor. This is achieved by a combination with Alternatively, the planar body and the respective sensors may be movable together. In a preferred embodiment, the planar body is a horizontal rotatable play field provided with at least two radially spaced sensors. Preferably, a set of at least two sensors, more preferably four sensors, are equally spaced circumferentially, and each set of sensors is radially spaced.

In a preferred embodiment, with respect to a game machine, a horizontal play field is equally divided into quadrants, a target area is set in each quadrant, and a user can use a coin discharging device to win. The player inserts a play piece toward the target area using. The play piece is a coin or a substitute coin. Whether or not the player has won is determined based on the stored game rules. Game pieces are then fixed (sweeper arms)
Wipe off with. This fixing device is in a state of floating above the surface of the play field. The device captures the play piece and holds it until the opening in the play field passes under the securing device. The play piece then falls into the chute through the opening and is sent to a container below the play field. This game machine further has a position encoder for accurately determining the position of coins and substitute coins on the play field, and a game license required for the game machine after a prize is legally recognized. Is given.

[0022]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a game machine 1 having a play field 2 divided into four quadrants. Each quadrant has a coin ejection device 3. To enjoy the game, the player uses the coin discharging device 3 to insert a game piece into the play field. The coin is removed by the sweeper arm (FIG. 2). The position of the coin in the play field is detected by a coin position encoder (FIG. 2), and it is determined whether or not the player has won the game based on game rules.
The present invention relates not only to a game machine for entertainment but also to each component of the game machine shown in FIGS.

FIG. 2 shows a circular play field 2 which rotates in the direction of arrow A. This play field is suitably used for the game machine shown in FIG. In the play field 2, target areas 103 with marks are arranged in a row. This target area forms a part of a game related to the game machine 1. During the game, coins are inserted into the play field 2. Openings 4 are formed in some target areas 103, which are formed by machining the playfield. In the play field 2, the target areas are spaced apart from each other in four different circular orbits.

A fixed metal chassis 5 is located on the play field 2 and divides the play field into quadrants of the same shape. The chassis 5 supports four sweeper arms 6 arranged at equal intervals and extending in the radial direction. The chassis 5 is fixed near the center and the periphery of the play field 2 and is provided at a position directly above the play field and slightly away from the play field, so that the play field 2 can freely rotate. The sweeper arms 6 are fixed to respective limbs of the chassis 5 and are manufactured by machining a block of a self-lubricating material, for example, oil-filled nylon. As shown in FIG. 3, this block is machined such that four U-shaped or V-shaped recesses 7 are formed on the front side (in relation to the relative movement between the play field 2 and the chassis 5). Here, the recess 7 is located such that the top 8 of the recess 7 passes directly above each opening 4 of the play field. Thus, the tops 8 of the four recesses are at positions corresponding to the four circular orbits in which the target areas (and the openings 4) are arranged. In each of the concave portions, a side close to the center of the play field forms a gentle slope surface 9, and a side away from the center of the play field forms a steep slope surface 10. Coupling with the rotational movement of the play field, the shape of the concave portion guides the coin toward the top 8. The coins on the play field are collected in the recess 7 until the top 8 is reached by the rotation of the play field, and then when the top 8 passes over the opening 4, the coin falls through the opening 4. In each quadrant, there is one aperture in each circular orbit.
In this way, the coins on the play field are collected. Fig. 4 Detects coins
A sensor 11 such as a plurality of conductive field sensors is mounted on the chassis 5 to supply signals to the game control system shown in FIG.

A total of four marks 13 arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction are attached to the periphery of the play field 2, and the arm has an optical sensor 12 for detecting each mark 13. When each mark 13 passes through the optical sensor 12, a signal is output to the control system shown in FIG.

As a modification of the game machine described above, the sweeper arm is a metal casting,
A wheel may be provided to ride on a surface near the play field surface. If the gap between the surface of the sweeper arm and the surface of the play field is sufficiently small, the coin can still be wiped effectively, and the wheel can reduce wear between both surfaces.

The game control system shown in FIG. 4 is mainly composed of a microprocessor 14 and has an associated memory 15. The form of the processor is not particularly limited. The memory 15 holds instructions for enabling the computer to operate the game machine based on a number of lookup tables used to determine the position of the coin on the play field. In particular, in the determination of the position of the coin, it is determined whether or not the coin to be determined is in any one of the marked target areas.

The conductive field sensor 11 provided on the sweeper arm 6 of each chassis 5
And the signal from the optical sensor 12 are transmitted to the microprocessor 14. The microprocessor 14 maintains the count value of the internal counter that is periodically reset according to the output from the optical sensor 12. The microprocessor 14 further includes a coin insertion confirmation unit 16, a game display 17, and a payment unit 18.
And connected to.

At the time of the game, a coin inserted in the quadrant of the play field 2 is detected by one of the conductive field sensors 11 provided on the respective sweeper arms 6, and the head of the coin is set to the conductive field type. Once within the envelope of sensor 11, conductive field sensor 11 outputs a low logic value and maintains this low level until the end of the coin deviates from the envelope. The microprocessor 14 includes the conductive field sensor 1
The rising edge of the pulse generated by 1 is detected and the current count value held by the internal counter maintained by the microprocessor 14 is recorded. To determine whether the detected coin is within the target area for winning the game, the microprocessor 14 accesses a look-up table stored in the memory 15 and associates the lookup table with the conductive field sensor 11. It is checked whether the count value is within any one of the possible target areas on the circular band. If so, a win is recorded and this value is determined by reference to the particular target area identified by the look-up table. In this example, there are four different look-up tables, each table for a respective band of playfield 2, where each band defines a target area.

For example, in the present embodiment, for playfield 2, during a 90-degree rotation, ie, one full quadrant, three clock cycles of the microprocessor
There are 150 interrupt counts. In some situations, when a coin is detected, it is possible to map the count value directly to the corresponding entry in the appropriate look-up table. However, in the case of a game machine, the rotation speed of the play field 2 changes, and since the change has nothing to do with the interrupt cycle of the microprocessor, an error may occur and such a thing is not performed.
In the present invention, an error can be compensated by applying a speed correction factor in consideration of an average rotation speed of the play field 2.

In the game control system shown in FIG. 4, the count value maintained by the microprocessor 14 is reset only when the microprocessor 14 detects an output signal from the play field 2. When the rotation speed changes, the reset count value may be 3150 or less or more. When the count value exceeds a predetermined count value (for example, 4000), the game machine enters a warning mode and the game is stopped.

When a coin is detected at the correct position in the look-up table, a logic algorithm is applied to the microprocessor to accurately map the recorded count value and win if the following conditions are met: Is detected. IF (count_value ≧ (start_bit x (average_count / 3150) AND (count_value ≦ (stop_bit x (average_count / 3150)

Here, the count value is the current count value in the play field 2 when the coin is detected, and the start_bit and the stop_bit are the target areas that provide the victory identified in the lookup table with respect to the rotation direction of the play field 2. The value in the lookup table that defines the peripheral limit value, average_count, is the average count value required to cross each quadrant, and 3150 is the length of the lookup table.

An example of a look-up table with seven target areas is shown in Table 1 below.

Table 1

The present invention comprises an accurate position encoder for determining the position of a coin or substitute coin in the play field. The resolution in the band of the innermost target area is about 0.15 mm, but the resolution in the band of the outermost target area is reduced only to about 0.29 mm. Each value meets the requirements of the rules of the various internationally established games well.

FIG. 5 shows a coin discharging device 3 used in a game machine of the above-described model installed in a game center.

The coin ejection device 3 of the present invention includes a coin insertion unit 19 and a coin confirmation unit 20 following the coin insertion unit 19. The coin confirmed by the coin confirmation unit 20 passes through the coin stack holder 21. A coin ejector is provided to press the lowest coin of the stacked coins into the coin passage. There is further provided a firing mechanism for colliding with a coin in the coin passage, moving the coin in the passage, and discharging the coin.

The device shown in FIG. 5 comprises two functionally identical (partially symmetrical relative to each other) coin ejection devices as described above, wherein the ejection devices are arranged side by side, and The two controls are operated simultaneously by the manual control 25. The two ejection devices are housed in a single housing, which has a top case 26 and a lower cradle 27. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the two discharge devices, where disassembly locations are different for clarity of the configuration.

This mechanism has two coin insertion slots 19, each of which is connected to a respective coin checking unit 20 composed of a coin comparator. The coin checking unit should be a standard equipment widely used for checking all kinds of coins and substitute coins in the entertainment and other vending machine industries. Two runways are provided for coins, one for legitimate coins and the other a reject chute 29 for rejected coins.

In the apparatus shown in FIG. 5, valid coins pass through the coin tube 21 where a predetermined number of valid coins are held. The inserted coin rotates between an upward slot 19 (coins are inserted in a vertical state) and a coin tube 19 (coins are stacked in a horizontal state) while the coin is descending the coin chute.
The coin tube 21 stacks a plurality of valid coins. The layers of coins are held in place by the coin tube holder 30, and the coins being stacked rest on one of the two supports.

The first support stand forms a slider mechanism 22 and has a first position for supporting a coin layer,
A slider mechanism is provided so as to be slidable between a second position where the slider mechanism is laterally shifted and separated from the coin layer. In the second position, the coin layer is supported by the second lower platform 31.

The movement of the slider mechanism 22 between the first position and the second position is controlled by the solenoid 32.
Is controlled by The central moving core of the solenoid is connected to the slider mechanism by a link arm 33. This is shown in detail in FIG.

The thickness of the first support 22 is slightly smaller than the thickness of a valid coin, and the first support is provided directly on the second support 31. When the first support moves from the first position to the second position, the coins in the coin layer fall onto the second support. When the first support moves from the second position to the first position, the first support pushes only the lowest coin in the coin layer, and the rest of the coin layer rests on the first support. Will be supported again.

The pushed-out coin passes through the slot 34 and rests on the ramp 35. When the coin is on the ramp 35, the edge of the coin protrudes from the end of the ramp 35 in an overhang state. A sensor 36 for detecting whether or not the coin is located at the end of the ramp is provided in association with the ramp 35. This sensor is a pressure sensor or comprises a light source and a photodetector for detecting light reflected on the coin. The ramp 35 is slightly inclined, and coins driven on the ramp 35 eventually rise.

A hammer 37 for hitting the edge of the coin is provided, so that the coin is
Pop out along 5. The ramp may be provided with a terminal bend 38 at a predetermined angle to the main part of the ramp to provide additional ascent for the coin to fly out, and / or to perform a motion to flip the coin. Give them to control the direction of the coin.

The hammer 37 is pulled back by operating the manual handle 25 against the urging force of the torsion spring 39. The handle 25 is supported by support plates 41 on both sides of the handle.
The bearing is mounted on a bearing 40 mounted on the bearing. As is clear from FIG. 7, a ratchet mechanism is provided to set a plurality of settings with different powers for the operation of the hammer. As a modified example, a configuration in which a tension spring is fixed to the handle 25 and the handle is urged by a spring (not shown) may be employed.

A solenoid control panel 42 for automatically controlling the solenoid 32 is placed on the receiving stand 27, whereby the lowermost coin can be placed on the ramp 35. A signal from the ramp sensor 36 and a signal from the coin comparator 20 are supplied to a main control unit (not shown), and the main control unit holds appropriate software and generates a command signal based on these signals. It is generated and output to the control panel 42 to drive the solenoid 32.

The coin sensor is determined to be present by the comparator sensor, and the coin is moved from the bottom of the coin layer to the ramp on the condition that the coin has jumped out of the ramp by the detection by the ramp sensor 36. The solenoid operates to put on. The comparator sensor counts valid coins and derives the number of coins in the layer based on the number of times the solenoid has operated. In the latter case, the sensor has a latch and is triggered each time a valid coin passes the comparator. The solenoid operates as many times as the number of legal coins, and all legal coins can pop out.

FIG. 6 is a specific example showing a state after assembly showing a configuration for supplying coins to the ramp. As shown, the solenoid 32 has a central slide core 43 and is connected to the slider 22 via a link arm 33. The slider 22 has a lower protrusion 44 projecting downward. The lower protrusion 44 extends through a slot 45 (FIG. 5) formed in the lower support base 46, and two pins 47 of the link arm 33.
, So that the link arm 33 can drive the support in both directions.

The movement of the slider mechanism 22 moving away from the coin layer is based on the control of the solenoid 32. However, the movement of the slider mechanism in the return direction is based on control by the return spring 49. Therefore, when the slider mechanism is not operating while the coin layer is supported by the slider mechanism 22, the solenoid control signal is unnecessary. As a modification, although not shown, the slider may be returned by attaching a conical spring to the slide core 43 itself.

FIG. 7 shows a specific configuration of the handle assembly. The handle 25 is pulled back to a limit position defined by a stop bar 51 covered with rubber. When the handle 25 is pulled back (turned clockwise in FIG. 7), the ratchet 52 is
5 passes through the latch 53. The latch 53 is biased counterclockwise in FIG.
The ratchet is held in the retracted position against the biasing force of the torsion spring. The hammer 37 is connected to the ratchet 52.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, four ratchet positions are provided. Hammer 37
Is released, the latch 53 is raised and the engagement with the ratchet is released. This is done manually. That is, the handle is returned to the position shown in FIG.
4 lifts the latch 53. Thus, when the handle is pulled back, the ratchet clicks in response to the increase in the power of the hammer. When the desired number of clicks has been heard (one to four in the embodiment of FIG. 7), the handle returns to the start position and the hammer is released.

Description of an actual game using the ejection device and the coin holding device according to the present invention will be omitted. This is because various possibilities are obvious to those skilled in the art. Further, it is apparent that various modifications can be made to the coin discharging device and the holding device described above.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a specific example of a game machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a target field for a game machine having a target area column.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a sweeper arm.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a game control system including a position encoder used to determine a position of an article introduced into a target area in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing components of a coin-operated machine with two ejection devices according to the invention.

FIG. 6 is a view showing details of a slider mechanism incorporated in the ejection device of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view showing details of a firing mechanism incorporated in the discharge device of FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game machine 2 Play field 3 Coin ejection device 4 Opening 6 Sweeper arm 7 Depression 8 Top 9 Slow slope 10 Steep slope 11 Conductive field sensor 12 Optical sensor 14 Microprocessor 16 Coin insertion check unit 20 Coin check unit 21 Coin Stacking holder 22 Slider mechanism (first support) 25 Handle 31 Lower support 32 Solenoid 35 Inclined path 37 Hammer

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (31) Priority claim number 9908917.9 (32) Priority date April 19, 1999 (April 19, 1999) (33) Priority claim country United Kingdom (GB) (81) Designated countries EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), OA (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, GM, KE, LS, MW, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZW) , EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AE, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, CH, CN CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP, KR , KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW (72) Inventor Crompton Gordon James , Broadstairs, North Fortland, Cliff Promenade, Hacklow (no address) (72) Inventor Mercer Paul Anthony, Kent M. 89 El Zet, England, Raynham, Suther Command Gar Denzu address 1 F-term (reference) 3E001 BA01 CA08 EA02 FA31

Claims (33)

[Claims] 1. A coin discharging device comprising a coin insertion portion connected to a coin checking unit, a coin discharging means, and a firing mechanism, wherein the coin recognized by the coin checking unit reaches a coin stacking holder, and The discharging means is provided to push the lowest coin out of the stacked coins to the coin discharging track,
A coin ejection device, wherein the firing mechanism collides with an edge of a coin on a coin runway and drives the coin along the runway to eject the coin. 2. The coin check unit is provided with a first sensor for detecting whether or not a coin has been inserted, and detecting whether or not a coin is present in the coin track on the coin track. 2. A coin discharging device according to claim 1, further comprising a second sensor for performing the operation, wherein the coin insertion means is automatically controlled based on signals from the first sensor and the second sensor. 3. The discharging means includes a support for supporting the coin layer,
The support is slidable between a first position for supporting a coin layer thereon and a second position where the coin layer is supported by another support below. When the platform moves from the first position to the second position, the coin layer falls on the lower support, and when the support moves from the second position to the first position, the coin layer 3. The coin discharging device according to claim 1, wherein the coin at the bottom of the layer is pushed by the support and placed on the coin discharging track. 4. The shooting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the launching mechanism includes a hammer at an end of the runway for colliding with an edge of an overhanging coin. Coin ejection device. 5. The coin discharging device according to claim 4, wherein the hammer is manually pulled back against the urging force of a spring and released to collide with a coin. 6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the hammer is held at one of a plurality of retracted positions by a ratchet mechanism, and the ratchet mechanism is released to release the hammer. A coin ejection device as described. 7. The runway has a first part and a second part which are arranged in series, and the direction changes rapidly at a boundary between the first part and the second part. 7. The coin discharging device according to any one of 1 to 6. 8. A plurality of coin ejection devices according to claim 1, wherein a single manual controller is provided for simultaneously operating a firing mechanism of each coin ejection device. A coin discharging machine characterized by the following. 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein two coin discharging machines are provided.
The coin ejection machine described. 10. A game machine comprising: the coin ejection device or the coin ejection machine according to claim 1; and a game surface on which coins are ejected. 11. The game screen according to claim 10, wherein the game plane is divided.
The game machine described. 12. A coin magazine for a coin discharging device, comprising: a coin holder for holding a coin layer; and a support for supporting the coin layer, wherein the support has a coin thereon. Slidable between a first position supporting the layer and a second position in which the coin layer is supported by another lower support, wherein the support is moved from the first position to the first position. When moving to the position 2, the coin layer falls onto the lower support, and when the support moves from the second position to the first position, the lowermost coin in the coin layer is A coin magazine characterized in that the coin magazine is pushed by a support base and mounted on a coin discharge runway. 13. The movement of the support between the first and second positions is controlled by a solenoid, and a movable core of the solenoid is connected to the support via a link arm. 13. The coin magazine according to claim 12, wherein: 14. The solenoid, wherein the solenoid is configured to move the support in a second position direction away from the coin layer, and a spring for returning the support to the first position is provided. 14. The coin magazine according to claim 13, wherein: 15. The coin magazine according to claim 13, further comprising a sensor for determining whether or not a coin is present in the coin holder, wherein the operation of the solenoid is controlled by the sensor. 16. An article holding apparatus provided with an article removing means, comprising: a planar body supporting a plurality of rows of articles; and a sweeper arm, wherein the planar body has at least one opening formed therein. An article can pass through the opening, and the sweeper arm is provided in sliding contact with the planar body, and the sweeper arm is moved at least by the relative movement between the planar body and the sweeper arm. A part of the surface is wiped, and the sweeper arm has at least one U
A V-shaped or V-shaped recess is formed, the recess having a top in a positional relationship directly passing over one or more openings formed in the planar body, and the sweeper arm and the planar body Relative movement of the article on the planar body in the wiping direction and in a direction perpendicular to the wiping direction in the direction of the top of the recess, the article is held in the recess until the top passes through the opening, An article holding device wherein an article passes through the opening when the top portion passes through the opening. 17. The article holding apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said planar body is a play field forming a horizontal plane of a game machine, and said article is a coin or a substitute coin. 18. The article holding apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said planar body is movably provided, and said sweeper arm is fixedly provided. 19. The planar object according to claim 17, wherein the planar object is a rotatable circular play field and is provided with at least two equally-spaced radially extending sweeper arms. 19. The article holding device according to 18. 20. Each recess has one side having a gentle slope and another side having a steep slope, and the one side is located closer to the center of the play field. The article holding device according to claim 19. 21. An article holding device comprising a planar body and a position encoder,
The planar body defines a target field having a plurality of rows of target areas, the position encoder has a plurality of sensors, and the target field and each sensor are in a relative moving relationship, such that The article introduced into the target field is detected by one of the sensors, and the position encoder performs a periodic count, and refers to the count value held by the counter, and detects the article detected by the one sensor. An article holding device configured to determine whether or not is within a target area on a target field. 22. The position encoder, wherein the processor maintains a count;
A memory associated with the processor for storing a look-up table, wherein an article detected by one sensor mapping the count value to the position of the target field is located in any one target area on the target field; 22. The article holding device according to claim 21, wherein it is determined whether or not the article is held. 23. When determining the position of an article on a target field with reference to a look-up table, the processor applies a correction factor to determine the relative distance between the target field and the respective sensor per predetermined time. 23. The article holding device according to claim 22, wherein a change in speed is compensated. 24. Each sensor is provided in association with at least one optimal look-up table, the look-up table defining a peripheral limit of each target area that can pass through the detection area of the sensor with respect to the count value. The article holding device according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the article holding device is defined. 25. The position encoder according to claim 21, wherein a counter of the position encoder is periodically reset in accordance with a relative positional relationship between a target field and each sensor. Article holding device. 26. The article holding apparatus according to claim 21, wherein each sensor is a conductive field sensor. 27. The relative movement between the planar body and each sensor is achieved by a combination of a movable play field and one or more non-movable sensors. Item 27. The article holding device according to any one of Items 21 to 26. 28. The method according to claim 28, wherein the relative movement between the planar body and the respective sensors is achieved by a combination of a movable play field and one or more movable sensors. Item 27. The article holding device according to any one of Items 21 to 26. 29. The relative movement between the planar body and each sensor is achieved by a combination of a non-movable play field and one or more movable sensors. Item 27. The article holding device according to any one of Items 21 to 26. 30. The planar body according to claim 21, wherein the planar body is a rotatable play field and is provided with at least two radially spaced sensors.
30. The article holding device according to any one of claims 29 to 29. 31. An article holding apparatus according to claim 30, wherein at least two sets of circumferentially equally spaced sensors are provided, and each set of sensors is radially spaced. . 32. A game machine obtained by the ancestor of the article holding device according to claim 16. 33. A game machine comprising a combination of two or more of the following requirements 1-3: a requirement 1; a coin discharge device according to any one of claims 1 to 9; a requirement 2; The article holding device according to any one of claims 21 to 31.