JP2004024327A - Token feeding out apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a token feeding out apparatus which can be supplied with tokens at a time and feeds out the tokens securely. <P>SOLUTION: The token feeding out apparatus includes a belt for carrying a plurality of tokens, and an upper cover section for detachably covering the belt. The upper cover section includes a token passing section in a funnel-form having an opening portion where the supplied tokens pass through, and a separation means which is provided between the token and the bottom face of the token passing section, and which can separate the plurality of tokens when the tokens that has passed through the opening portion are carried on the belt in an overlapped condition. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a medal sending device used in a game machine including a slot machine.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A gaming machine such as a slot machine is provided with a medal slot. The player can enjoy the game by inserting a predetermined number of medals.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In conventional gaming machines, medals were inserted one by one. This is inconvenient and time-consuming when a large number of medals are inserted at once. However, if a large number of medals can be inserted at one time, there is a problem that the medals are blocked at the insertion slot or the discharge slot. Further, when the rotary hopper is provided at the medal insertion slot, there is a problem that a large space is required in the horizontal direction.
[0004]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a medal sending device that enables a medal to be inserted at a time and that can reliably send out medals.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A medal delivery device according to claim 1 includes a belt for transporting a plurality of medals, and a detachable upper lid that covers the belt, wherein the upper lid is provided with an opening through which inserted medals can pass. Funnel-shaped medal passing portion, provided between the bottom surface of the medal passing portion and the belt, and when the plurality of medals passing through the opening are conveyed on the belt in an overlapping state, And separating means for separating medals.
[0006]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the medal feeding device according to the first aspect, wherein the separating means is a roller provided substantially parallel to the belt and rotating in a direction parallel to the belt conveying direction. And
[0007]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the medal feeding device according to the second aspect, wherein the roller rotates in a direction opposite to a belt conveying direction.
[0008]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the medal feeding device according to the third aspect, wherein a gap width between a lower end portion of a roller and the belt is slightly larger than a thickness of the medal.
[0009]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the medal feeding device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein a medal is guided between the separating means and the belt on the side of the medal passing portion from the separating means. A part is provided.
[0010]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the medal feeding device according to the fifth aspect, wherein the guide surface of the guide portion is inclined toward the belt as approaching the separating means.
[0011]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medal feeding device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein a belt driving unit that controls a belt transport operation, and a transport that detects a transport state of the belt. A belt driving unit that outputs a driving signal to the belt, but the belt driving unit does not detect the operation of transporting the rollers even if the belt driving unit outputs a driving signal to the belt. Is operated in a direction opposite to the normal direction.
[0012]
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a medal sending device that enables a medal to be inserted at a time and that can send out a medal reliably.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
A medal delivery device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an outline of a medal feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0015]
In FIG. 1, a medal sending device 100 is provided with a medal receiving unit 1 at the top of which a player actually inserts a plurality of medals. The belt 2 includes a belt 2 to be conveyed, a belt driving roller 6 for driving the belt, and an upper cover 200 that covers the belt 2. The rotation speed and the rotation direction of the belt driving roller 6 are controlled by a belt driving unit such as a motor (not shown).
[0016]
Below the medal receiving portion 1, a detachable upper lid portion 200 that covers the belt 2 is provided. At one end of the upper cover 200, a medal passing portion 201 having a funnel shape is dropped and overlapped on the belt 2 so that medals inserted into the medal receiving portion 1 fall on the belt 2 in a direction inclined as much as possible. A plurality of medals inserted in the game machine are separated one by one at the other end, that is, the roller 3 for transporting the inside of the gaming machine, and a plurality of medals conveyed by the roller 3 immediately before entering the roller 3, a certain number of And a guide plate 13 which separates the guide plate.
[0017]
The roller 3 is provided substantially parallel to the belt 2. A gap b is provided between the roller 3 and the belt 2. When the medals are conveyed one by one in the horizontal direction, the gap b is slightly larger than the thickness of one medal and smaller than the thickness of two medals. In this case, the medals are conveyed one by one by the belt 2. The size of the gap b is determined according to the thickness of the conveyed medals and the number of conveyed medals. The rotation of the roller 3 is controlled by a drive control unit (not shown) such as a motor.
[0018]
As shown by the arrow in the figure, the roller 3 moves in the direction opposite to the conveying direction of the belt 2 in the gap b. More specifically, the roller 3 rotates so that the side of the roller 3 facing the transport direction of the belt 2 moves in the direction opposite to the transport direction of the surface of the belt 2 facing the roller 3. The fact that the roller 3 moves in the direction opposite to the conveying direction of the belt 2 means such a situation.
[0019]
FIG. 2 shows an example in which the medal feeding device 100 of FIG. 1 is applied to a gaming machine (slot machine). The medals inserted by the medal sending device 100 can be sent to a medal selector, a medal internal storage device, and a hopper.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 2, the slot machine 10 has a box-shaped housing 11. A rectangular window-like display window 12 facing the player side is formed at the center and upper part of the housing 11. At the center of the display window 12 at the center, a symbol display window 13 through which symbols 61 of the three reels 40 can be seen is formed. The pet switch 16 is a switch located below the spinning reel 40, and reduces the number of stored medals to replace medals. The settlement switch 17 is a switch located diagonally below the rotating reel, and pays out the stored inserted medals. The start switch 30 is a lever located diagonally below the rotating reel 40, and starts driving the reel unit 60 on condition that a game medal or the pet switch 16 is turned on. The stop switch 50 is for stopping the driving of the reel unit 60. The reel unit 60 includes three rotating reels 40. Each rotating reel 40 includes a rotating drum made of a synthetic resin, and a tape-shaped reel tape 42 attached around the rotating drum. On the outer peripheral surface of the reel tape 42, a plurality of (for example, 21) symbols 61 are displayed.
[0021]
FIG. 3 shows a state in which the medal sending device 100 and the medal receiving unit 1 are viewed obliquely from above. 101 is a start / stop switch. By operating this switch 101, the medal delivery device 100 operates / stops. A sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a medal may be provided to automatically operate / stop the apparatus. When a player inserts a large number of medals into the medal receiving portion 1, the medals slide on the slope of the funnel-shaped medal receiving portion 1, reach the opening A, and pass therefrom through the medal passing portion 201 onto the belt 2. Fall. The size of the opening A is slightly large enough to easily drop a plurality of medals. Therefore, not only when one or two medals are inserted, but also when many medals are inserted at the same time, some medals are surely dropped onto the belt 2 and conveyed. As will be described later, even if a plurality of medals fall on the belt 2 through the opening A, the medals are conveyed one by one (in order to inspect and sort medals in the medal selector or to count the number of medals, Are transported one by one). Note that the medal receiving section 1 may be detachable.
[0022]
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the medal delivery device 100 as viewed from above with the medal receiving unit 1 removed, and FIG. 5B is a plan view of only the upper cover 201 as viewed from above, and FIG. Is a plan view of a portion of the medal delivery device 100 from which the upper lid 200 has been removed, as viewed from above.
[0023]
As shown in the figure, a portion where the medals are conveyed is provided with a belt 2, a roller 3 for conveying the belt 2, and a gear 3a for driving the roller 3. The medals that have passed through the opening A of the medal receiving section 1 pass through the medal passing section 201 and fall on the belt 2. The medals are conveyed on the belt 2, separated by the rollers 3, and carried inside the gaming machine.
[0024]
Next, the operation of the medal sending device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0025]
6 to 8 are cross-sectional views illustrating a case where one medal M is inserted.
[0026]
The medals M that have passed through the medal passing section 201 fall onto the belt 2. Since the belt 2 moves in the direction of the arrow, the tip of the medal M also moves in the same direction. Then, the other end of the medal M also falls on the belt 2 as shown in FIG. Since the gap between the belt 2 and the roller 3 is wider than the thickness of one medal, the medal M is conveyed by the belt 2 and reaches the end of the belt 2. Then, the medals M fall along the medal guide 4 from the end of the belt 2 as shown in FIG. Then, it is led to a medal selector (not shown).
[0027]
FIG. 9 shows a case where a plurality of (two) medals M and M ′ are inserted. The lower medal M is conveyed in the same manner as in FIGS. 6 to 8, but the medal M ′ does not contact the belt 2. Instead, the upper medal M 'comes into contact with the roller 3 and is slightly lifted up and pushed back in the direction of the arrow. The medal M ′ is in the opening A while the medal M is being conveyed. Thus, the medal M ′ is separated from the medal M. When the medal M is conveyed, the medal M 'drops slightly and becomes the same state as the medal M in FIG. Then, the medal M 'is transported in the same manner.
[0028]
Consider the case where there is no roller 3. If a medal is inserted in a state where two medals are overlapped, the medal is conveyed by the belt 2 as it is. In this case, medals may be jammed in the medal selector. Consider a case in which a plate is used instead of the roller 3 to provide a gap for one medal. When two medals are inserted in a state of being overlapped, the two medals are conveyed together by a belt. Then, medals may be clogged in the gap. Therefore, in order to transport medals one by one without causing medal clogging when a plurality of medals are inserted at the same time, it is desirable to provide, for example, the roller 3. By providing the guide plate 13 immediately before the roller 3 as shown in each figure, it is possible to prevent many medals from being conveyed to the roller 3 at one time.
[0029]
Further, an operation when a medal is jammed between the belt 2 and the roller 3 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0030]
When a plurality of medals are jammed between the belt 2 and the roller 3 as shown in FIG. 10, both the conveyance operation of the belt 2 and the rotation of the roller 3 are stopped. At this time, a conveyance state sensor (not shown) that detects the conveyance operation of the belt 2, that is, the rotation speed of the belt driving roller 6, detects that the belt 2 is not operating.
[0031]
On the other hand, the belt driving unit that controls the rotation of the belt driving roller 6 continues to output the conveyance command.
[0032]
In such a state, the belt driving unit determines that the state is "clogged state". At this time, the belt driving unit drives the belt driving roller 6 so that the belt 2 is in the opposite direction to the conventional conveying direction, that is, the rotation of the belt driving roller 6 for the belt 2 is in the opposite direction. (See the arrow indicating the rotation direction of the belt driving roller 6 in FIG. 10).
[0033]
As a result, both the separation roller 3 and the belt driving roller 6 for the belt rotate in the direction of the medal passing portion 201, so that the jammed medals can be flipped in the direction of the medal passing portion 201. As a result, it is possible to prevent a failure or breakage of the motor or the like due to jammed medals. In addition, interruption of the game due to the medal clogging can be prevented, and the player can comfortably continue the game.
[0034]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, which are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say,
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, medals can be inserted at a time, and medals can be reliably sent out.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an outline of a medal feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example in which the medal sending device according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied to a gaming machine (slot machine).
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the medal feeding device according to the embodiment of the invention is viewed obliquely from above.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the medal feeding device according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above with a medal receiving portion removed.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the medal feeding device according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above. FIG. 5A is a plan view showing a belt portion, and FIG. 5B is a plan view showing an upper lid portion.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the medal sending device according to the embodiment of the present invention (in the case of one medal).
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the medal feeding device according to the embodiment of the present invention (in the case of one medal) (continued).
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the medal feeding device according to the embodiment of the present invention (in the case of one medal) (continued).
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the medal feeding device according to the embodiment of the present invention (in the case of two medals).
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an operation in a jammed state in the medal feeding device according to the embodiment of the present invention (in the case of two medals).
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Medal Receiving Unit 2 Belt 3 Roller 4 Medal Guide 6 Belt Driving Roller 13 Guide Plate 100 Medal Feeding Device 101 Start / Stop Switch 200 Top Cover 201 Medal Passing Portion A Medal Receiving Portion Opening M Medal

Claims (7)

Including a belt that conveys a plurality of medals, and a removable top cover that covers the belt,
The upper lid is provided with a funnel-shaped medal passing portion provided with an opening through which the inserted medal can pass, and provided between the bottom surface of the medal passing portion and the belt, and has passed through the opening. A medal feeding device, comprising: a separation unit that can separate the plurality of medals when the medals are conveyed on the belt in an overlapping state. 2. The medal feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the separating unit is a roller provided substantially parallel to the belt and rotating in a direction parallel to a conveying direction of the belt. The medal feeding device according to claim 2, wherein the roller rotates in a direction opposite to a conveying direction of the belt. 4. The medal feeding device according to claim 3, wherein a gap width between a lower end portion of the roller and the belt is slightly wider than a thickness of the medal. 5. A medal feeding device according to claim 1, wherein a guide portion for guiding medals is provided between said separating device and said belt on a side of said medal passing portion from said separating device. apparatus. The medal feeding device according to claim 5, wherein a guide surface of the guide portion is inclined toward the belt as approaching the separating means. A belt driving unit that controls the conveyance operation of the belt, and a conveyance state sensor that detects a conveyance state of the belt,
If the transport state sensor does not detect the transport operation of the belt even though the belt drive unit outputs a drive signal to the belt, the belt drive unit normally sets the transport direction of the belt. The medal feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the medal feeding device is operated so as to be in a direction opposite to the direction.

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