JP2004290495A - Game medium counter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To save a space for an installation part by providing a multifunctional type counter capable of responding to both of Pachinko balls and tokens in a simple constitution. <P>SOLUTION: This game media counter is provided with a hopper 2 for throwing the Pachinko balls and the tokens as game media, or counting objects; a throw-in hole 3 from which the thrown-in Pachinko balls and tokens fall; a Pachinko ball falling plate 10 disposed in the lower side of the throw-in hole 3 inclined in one direction, having a plurality of falling holes 11 allowing the passing of the Pachinko balls and preventing the passing of the tokens and reciprocating along the slope surface; a Pachinko ball shut-off plate 20 erected in the downstream side of the slope surface on the Pachinko ball falling plate 10 and formed with a slit preventing the passing of the Pachinko balls and allowing the passing of the tokens in a space toward the plate surface of the Pachinko ball falling plate 10; a Pachinko ball sensor 31 counting the Pachinko balls passing through the Pachinko ball falling plate 10; and a token sensor 41 counting the tokens passing through the Pachinko ball shut-off plate 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a game medium counting machine for counting the number of game media such as pachinko balls used in a pachinko machine and medals (coins) used in a pachislot machine (slot machine). A multifunction counter that can handle both pachinko balls and medals can be realized with only a simple configuration without the need for equipment, etc. The present invention relates to a game media counter excellent in reliability and safety, which can save space in parts and does not cause troubles such as failure, misuse, and injury to a user.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, in a game hall or the like in which a game machine such as a pachinko machine or a pachislot machine is installed, a game medium counter for counting the number of game media such as pachinko balls and medals paid out as a result of the game is provided.
In this type of game media counting machine, game media such as pachinko balls and medals to be counted are put into a hopper, so that pachinko balls (or medals) sequentially fall and flow into the counting machine from a slot at the bottom of the hopper. Then, the number of balls (or the number of medals) is sequentially counted by passing through a counting unit such as a sensor provided inside the counter. The counting result of the counter is displayed, for example, on a ticket (prize voucher) or the like and is issued to a player or the like, and the player or the like presents the issued ticket to the hall side so that the player can exchange it for a predetermined premium. It has become.
[0003]
Conventionally, this type of game medium counter is provided for each type of game medium to be counted, such as a pachinko ball counter for pachinko balls and a medal counter for medals. The machine could only count one type of game media.
For this reason, in the hall where the pachinko machine and the pachislot machine are installed side by side, it is necessary to separately prepare a counter for pachinko balls and a counter for medals, which requires additional installation cost and installation space. The problem occurred. Recently, the popularity of pachislot machines has been remarkable, and the number of halls equipped with both pachinko and pachislot machines has increased, making it difficult to neglect such problems with counters.
Further, in this way, in the counter for each game medium, there is a problem of misuse and erroneous counting in which an incorrect game medium is applied to an incompatible counter, for example, a pachinko ball is inserted into a counter for medals. There was also.
[0004]
Therefore, a "counter for amusement arcade" has been proposed in which a single counter can count both pachinko balls and medals (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
As disclosed in Patent Document 1, this counting machine is provided with a belt conveyor (feeding conveyor) in a loading section and a turntable that rotates at a high speed inside thereof, and a pachinko ball and a medal are provided. When inserted, pachinko balls and medals are conveyed and stored in a mixed state on a turntable via a belt conveyor.
At the bottom of the turntable, there is formed a through-hole through which only pachinko balls can pass, from which the pachinko balls fall and are selected as medals, and the selected pachinko balls are counted by a dedicated counting unit. You.
[0005]
On the other hand, on the outer periphery of the turntable, a guide plate for guiding the medal in a predetermined direction while preventing the medal from falling is formed, and the medal induced by the centrifugal force of the turntable rotating at a high speed is formed on the guide plate. The medals are discharged from an opening for discharging medals, and the discharged medals are conveyed by a belt conveyor (coin conveyor) adjacent to the opening for discharging, and counted by a counting section dedicated to medals.
In this manner, in this conventional counter, even if a pachinko ball and a medal are inserted in a single counter in a mixed state, they can be counted separately by separating them. Problems such as installation costs can be solved, and troubles such as incorrect counting of game media can be prevented.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-61-217184 (page 2-3, FIG. 1)
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, this conventionally proposed counter requires a plurality of belt conveyors (loading conveyors, coin conveyors), a high-speed rotating turntable, and a device for driving these.
For this reason, the structure becomes complicated and large, and the whole counter becomes complicated and large, which causes a problem that space saving and cost reduction are hindered. Further, there is a problem that a failure or the like is likely to occur in the counter which requires such a complicated driving structure.
Furthermore, in such a counter provided with a turntable or a belt conveyor rotating at such a high speed, there is a possibility that the user's hand or finger may be involved, and in the worst case, an accident such as injury may occur. .
[0008]
The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the problems of the above-described conventional techniques, and does not require a large-sized and complicated structure or device, and has only a simple configuration and a pachinko ball. A multi-function counter that can handle both medals and medals can be realized, and a compact and lightweight multi-function counter with a simple configuration saves space in the installation area, and can prevent malfunctions, misuse, It is an object of the present invention to provide a game medium counter with excellent reliability and safety that does not cause troubles such as injuries.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a game medium counting machine according to the present invention, as described in claim 1, comprises a game medium insertion section capable of inserting pachinko balls and medals as game media to be counted, and a game medium insertion section. A pachinko ball dropping plate that is inclined downwardly, has a drop hole through which a pachinko ball can pass and a medal cannot pass, and a pachinko ball drop plate that can reciprocate along an inclined surface; A pachinko ball blocking plate that is a plate-shaped member that is erected on the downstream side of the inclined surface on the falling plate and that forms a slit through which a pachinko ball cannot pass and a medal can pass between the pachinko ball and the plate surface of the falling plate. It is configured to include a pachinko ball counting unit that counts pachinko balls that have passed through the pachinko ball dropping plate and a medal counting unit that counts medals that have passed through the pachinko ball blocking plate.
[0010]
According to the game medium counting machine of the present invention having such a configuration, the pachinko balls and the medals inserted into the game medium insertion section are first sorted out to the pachinko counting means side by passing only the pachinko balls through the falling holes. . On the other hand, medals move on the inclined surface without passing through the pachinko ball dropping plate, pass through the slit formed by the pachinko ball blocking plate, and are selected on the medal counting means side. At this time, the pachinko ball drop plate reciprocates slidably along the inclined surface, so that the pachinko ball falls and the medal moves on the inclined surface quickly and smoothly.
Thus, the pachinko ball and the medal can be easily separated and guided to the respective counting means only by providing the pachinko ball drop plate and reciprocating the pachinko ball.
The pachinko ball drop plate can be constituted by a simple plate-like member, and reciprocating the pachinko ball along the inclined surface can be easily realized by a simple motor or the like.
[0011]
Therefore, according to the present invention, unlike a conventional counter, a complicated and large-sized device such as a turntable or a belt conveyor rotating at a high speed, a structure or the like is not required. It is possible to sort accurately.
Thus, a small-sized and light-weight multifunctional counter having a simple configuration can save space at an installation location in a game hall or the like.
In addition, the counter having a simple configuration has no troubles, and there is no risk of hands or fingers getting caught in the belt conveyor or the like, and there is no trouble such as injury to the user, reliability and safety. And an excellent game medium counter with high performance.
[0012]
And, as described in claim 2, the pachinko ball drop plate is configured to include a plurality of concave and convex portions on which a medal can be locked on the plate surface.
In particular, it is preferable that the concavo-convex portion of the pachinko ball drop plate has a saw-tooth cross section.
[0013]
With such a configuration, the medals inserted into the counter are caught on, for example, an uneven portion such as a saw-tooth cross section of a pachinko falling plate formed on the surface of a washing plate, and the pachinko falling plate follows the inclined surface. As the slide slides, the medals caught on the concave and convex portions rise upward and return, and are aligned flat along the inclined surface. The medals aligned along the inclined surface are easily passed through the slit formed by the pachinko ball blocking plate, and are smoothly guided to the medal counting means side.
As a result, smoother and faster counting can be performed, and a more reliable counter can be provided.
[0014]
The falling holes of the pachinko ball dropping plate are configured such that one or two or more falling holes are arranged in a row along a predetermined direction.
And, as described in claim 5, it is preferable to provide one or two or more pachinko ball rectifying plates that partition the space through which the lower pachinko balls fall through the pachinko ball falling plate along a predetermined direction. .
Furthermore, as described in claim 6, it is preferable to provide one or two or more medal rectifying plates that partition a space through which a medal on the downstream side of the inclined surface of the pachinko ball drop plate passes along a predetermined direction. .
[0015]
With this configuration, a plurality of drop holes are arranged, for example, in the reciprocating direction of the pachinko ball drop plate, and the pachinko ball straightening plate is arranged in the same direction as the drop holes in the row direction of the drop holes. They can be arranged at pitch. Thus, the pachinko balls that fall through the drop holes of the pachinko ball drop plate fall along the direction in which the drop holes are arranged, and are guided by the pachinko ball rectifying plate, and are aligned with the counting means side. Will be guided to.
Similarly, the medal rectifying plate can also be arranged at a predetermined pitch, for example, along the reciprocating direction of the pachinko ball drop plate, whereby medals that have passed through the slit formed by the It is guided by the current plate and guided toward the counting means while being aligned in a predetermined direction. When two or more flow paths are formed by the medal rectifying plates, it is preferable that the pitch (interval) of each rectifying plate is set to be larger than the diameter of the medal and smaller than twice the diameter of the medal. In this way, the flow path of the medals separated by each straightening plate is large enough to allow the medals to pass one by one, thereby preventing two or more medals from flowing into the flow path at the same time and causing a medal clogging or the like. become able to.
In this way, in the counting machine of the present invention, since the pachinko ball and the medal can be guided and transported in a state where they are respectively aligned from the stage of entering the inside of the counting machine from the insertion section, useless movement of the game medium is prevented. This makes it possible to realize smoother and faster counting of game media without occurrence of jamming, medal jamming, and the like.
[0016]
Further, the game medium counting machine of the present invention is configured to include a driving means for reciprocating the pachinko ball drop plate along the inclined surface, as described in claim 7.
Further, as described in claim 8, it is preferable that the driving means be configured to change the width and / or speed of the reciprocating motion of the pachinko ball drop plate.
Further, it is preferable that the driving means is configured to reciprocate the pachinko ball drop plate with a stroke equal to or larger than the diameter of the medal.
[0017]
By adopting such a configuration, by providing a driving unit for reciprocating the pachinko ball drop plate along the inclined surface, it is possible to automate the process of selecting pachinko balls and medals. By controlling the width and speed of the reciprocating motion of the pachinko ball dropping plate by the driving means, the number of pachinko balls and medals to be inserted, the ratio thereof, the counting processing capacity of the counter, and the like can be selected more flexibly. Processing can be performed.
Also, by reciprocating the pachinko ball drop plate with a stroke larger than the diameter of the medal to be thrown, the medals caught on the uneven part are aligned flatly along the inclined surface while rising upward, more quickly and reliably Then, the pachinko ball blocking plate can be easily guided through the slit formed by the pachinko ball blocking plate and guided to the counting means.
In this way, smoother and faster counting can be easily and automatically performed, and a more reliable and convenient counter can be provided.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a game medium counter according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a game medium counter according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a main part showing an internal configuration of the game medium counter of the embodiment shown in FIG. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a main part showing an internal configuration of the game medium counter of the present embodiment.
[0019]
As shown in these drawings, the game medium counting machine 1 according to the present embodiment can use both media even when pachinko balls, which are game media for pachinko machines, and medals (coins), which are game media for pachislot machines, are mixed. This is a multi-functional game media counter that can sort and count simultaneously.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the game medium counting machine 1 includes a game medium input section including a mortar-shaped hopper 2 and an input port 3 formed in a bottom portion of the hopper 2. The pachinko balls and medals that have been thrown into the counter fall down from the slot 3 and flow into and roll into the counter (see FIG. 2), so that the pachinko balls and medals are separated and counted.
The counting result of the counted pachinko balls and medals is displayed on the display unit 4.
[0020]
The hopper 2 is a game medium receiving unit that receives pachinko balls and medals to be counted, and has a mortar shape in which the inserted pachinko balls and medals can flow and roll toward the bottom as shown in FIG. Is formed.
Here, the hopper 2 has a size and a depth that allow a certain amount of pachinko balls and medals to be inserted therein. Although such a configuration may be adopted, it is generally formed to have a capacity corresponding to the counting speed and the like inside the counter.
For example, in the case of a counting machine having a speed capable of counting pachinko balls at about 14,000 to 20,000 pieces per minute, the hopper 2 is equivalent to about 6,000 to 8,000 pachinko balls. It is preferable that the shape and the size have a capacity.
The hopper 2 is usually configured to be freely attachable and detachable to and from the counter main body so that maintenance and inspection of the counter can be easily performed. However, the detachable structure and the like are particularly limited. Not something.
[0021]
The bottom of the hopper 2 is provided with a slot 3 through which pachinko balls and medals fall and flow into the counter.
The slot 3 is a hole into which the pachinko balls and medals thrown into the hopper 2 fall, and as shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, in the hopper longitudinal direction substantially at the center of the mortar-shaped bottom of the hopper 2. It is formed in a rectangular shape that opens along.
Thus, even if a large amount of pachinko balls and medals are thrown into the hopper 2, a large number of pachinko balls and medals fall at the same time and can flow into the counter. The shape and size of the charging port 3 can be set in a manner corresponding to the counting speed of the counter and the like, similarly to the hopper 2.
[0022]
The display unit 4 is a display unit composed of, for example, an LED or a liquid crystal, and displays the result of the counting process (for example, the total number, the number of premiums, and the number of remainders) by the counting unit.
In addition, when an error is detected in the counting process, the display unit 4 can also display the presence or absence of the error, the content of the error, and the like.
As shown in FIG. 2, a pachinko ball drop plate 10 and a pachinko ball blocking plate 20 located below the slot 3 are provided inside the gaming medium counter 1 as described above. Even if the medals M are inserted in a mixed state, the two media are separated without error.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 2, the pachinko ball drop plate 10 is formed of a plate-like member that is disposed to be inclined below the game medium input unit, and is a drop hole through which a pachinko ball P can pass and a medal M cannot pass. 11 is provided.
The drop hole 11 is a through hole having a diameter larger than the diameter of the pachinko ball P (for example, about 11 mm) and smaller than the diameter of the medal M (for example, about 25 mm or 30 mm). When the pachinko ball P and the medal M enter and fall from the slot 3 above the pachinko ball drop plate 10 by providing such a drop hole 11, only the pachinko ball P passes through the drop hole 11 and the pachinko counting means. The player falls to the side and is separated from the medal M and is selected.
[0024]
Here, the drop holes 11 are configured such that one or two or more drop holes 11 are arranged in a row along a predetermined direction. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. Four rows of holes 11 are arranged along the inclined direction of the pachinko ball drop plate 10 (that is, the reciprocating direction).
By forming the plurality of falling holes 11 in this way, the pachinko balls P fall and are guided along the direction in which the falling holes 11 are arranged, and are sent to the counting means in an aligned state.
It is needless to say that the number, the number of rows, and the row direction of the drop holes 11 can be arbitrarily set according to the size of the pachinko ball drop plate 10, the scale of the counter, the counting capacity, the number of pachinko balls P to be input, and the like. No.
[0025]
In addition, the pachinko ball drop plate 10 includes a plurality of concave and convex portions 12 on which a medal M can be locked on the plate surface. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the uneven portion 12 is formed in a triangular wave shape having a sawtooth (jagged) cross section formed on the surface of the pachinko ball drop plate 10.
By providing such uneven portions 12, the medal M inserted into the counting machine is caught by the uneven portions 12 formed on the washing plate shape of the pachinko falling plate 10, and the pachinko falling plate 10 moves along the inclined surface. With the sliding, the medals M stuck on the concave / convex portions 12 rise upward and return, are aligned flat along the inclined surface, and all medals are smoothly transported to the downstream side.
Here, the shape of the uneven portion 12, the height of the unevenness, and the pitch can be set in any manner as long as the outer edge of the medal M can be locked. Can be arbitrarily set in accordance with the number of items.
[0026]
The pachinko ball drop plate 10 is supported so as to be able to reciprocate along the inclined surface, and is controlled to reciprocate along the inclined surface by a driving force of a driving unit 50 described later.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, four locations on the outer periphery of the pachinko ball drop plate 10 are supported by guide rollers 13, whereby the pachinko ball drop plate 10 can reciprocate along the inclined surface. Become like
By configuring the pachinko ball drop plate 10 to be reciprocally movable in this manner, only the pachinko balls P of the game media that have flowed in and dropped from the insertion port 3 are dropped into the drop holes 11, and the medals M are moved downstream of the slope. Can be guided and transported to the medal counting means side, and smooth counting can be performed without causing jamming of balls and medals.
[0027]
The driving unit 50 is a driving unit that reciprocates the pachinko ball dropping plate 10 along the inclined surface. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the motor 51 and the rotating plate rotated by the motor 51 are used. 52 and an eccentric projection 52a projecting from the rotating plate 52. The eccentric projection 52a is slidably engaged in the elongated hole 14 formed at the end of the pachinko ball drop plate 10.
As shown in FIG. 3, the elongated hole 14 of the pachinko ball drop plate 10 extends in a direction orthogonal to the reciprocating direction of the pachinko ball drop plate 10. Is converted into a linear motion of the pachinko ball drop plate 10 through the eccentric projection 52a and the elongated hole 14.
Thereby, the pachinko ball falling plate 10 is reciprocated at a predetermined width along the inclined surface. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the pachinko ball drop plate 10 reciprocates (eg, vibrates) with a width (distance) that is twice the distance r from the rotary plate 52 to the eccentric protrusion 52a.
[0028]
Here, the width and / or speed of the reciprocating motion of the pachinko ball drop plate 10 includes the number of rotations and the rotation speed of the motor 51 of the driving means 50, the distance from the rotary plate 52 to the eccentric protrusion 52a (r shown in FIG. 3), and the like. Can be arbitrarily set and changed.
In particular, in the present embodiment, the pachinko ball drop plate 10 is reciprocated by the driving means 50 with a stroke equal to or larger than the diameter of the medal M to be counted.
By reciprocating the pachinko ball drop plate 10 with a stroke larger than the diameter of the medal M, the medal M stuck on the uneven portion 12 of the pachinko ball drop plate 10 repeatedly rises and returns upward at a distance exceeding the diameter. Will be. Thereby, even if a large number of medals M are inserted, all medals are quickly and surely aligned flatly along the inclined surface, and are flattened so as to easily pass through the slit 20a formed by the pachinko ball blocking plate 20. Can be.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 2, the pachinko ball blocking plate 20 is formed of a plate-like member that is provided upright on the inclined surface downstream of the pachinko ball falling plate 10, and is provided between the pachinko ball falling plate 10 and the plate surface. Are formed so as to form slits 20a through which medals cannot pass and pass.
As shown in FIG. 3, the pachinko ball blocking plate 20 is disposed so as to cross the pachinko ball falling plate 10 at right angles, and blocks the pachinko ball P from flowing into the medal counting means on the downstream of the slope. ing.
Here, the slit 20a formed between the pachinko ball blocking plate 20 and the pachinko ball drop plate 10 is a gap slightly larger than the thickness of the medal M, and is set so that only one medal M can pass. It is. As a result, of the game media inserted from the insertion slot 3, only the medals M sequentially pass through the slit 20a and are sent to the medal counting means side on the downstream of the slope. As long as the pachinko ball P cannot pass, the slit 20a can be set to have an arbitrary gap, and two or more medals M can pass.
[0030]
As shown in FIG. 2, the pachinko ball P and the medal M which are separated and selected by the pachinko ball falling plate 10 and the pachinko ball blocking plate 20 as described above are respectively shown in FIG. Sent to
The pachinko ball flow path 30 is a space located below the pachinko ball drop plate 10, and the pachinko ball P falling through the drop hole 11 passes through the pachinko ball flow path 30 and serves as a pachinko ball sensor 31 serving as counting means. Sent to
The pachinko ball flow path 30 is provided with one or more pachinko ball rectifying plates 30a that partition a space along a predetermined direction.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the rows of the drop holes 11 are arranged at the same pitch as the row of the drop holes 11 along the direction in which the drop holes 11 are arranged (that is, the reciprocating direction of the pachinko ball drop plate 10). Four pachinko ball straightening plates 30a are provided so as to partition. As a result, the pachinko balls falling into the pachinko ball flow path 30 are guided by the pachinko ball rectifying plate 30a and pass through the pachinko ball sensors 31 positioned downstream in a state of being aligned in a predetermined direction.
[0031]
As shown in FIG. 2, the pachinko ball sensor 31 is provided on the downstream side of the pachinko ball flow path 30, and serves as a counting means for counting the falling and passing pachinko balls one by one.
The pachinko ball sensor 31 includes, for example, a photo sensor, a magnetic sensor, an electromagnetic sensor, a proximity sensor, and the like. A sensor signal from the pachinko ball sensor 31 is input to a not-shown counting processing unit to perform a predetermined counting process. .
As described above, the counting result is displayed on the display unit 4 provided in the counter.
[0032]
In addition, the pachinko ball sensor 31 can be constituted by, for example, a dual sensor (dual sensor) capable of detecting a backflow of the passing pachinko ball, and in this case, the pachinko ball is moved in the reverse direction in the flow path. It is possible to detect an abnormality such as a backflow that flows, an abnormality such as a clogging in which both of the two sensors are simultaneously turned off, and an abnormality such as a failure in which one of the two sensors does not operate.
Then, the pachinko balls P that have been subjected to the counting process are dropped and guided to a medal circulation route as shown in FIG. 2, and are discharged to the outside of the counter through a discharge port (not shown) or the like. The pachinko balls P discharged to the outside of the counter are received by a circulation route such as a replenishing tank and collected at the hole side, and returned to the player as extra balls as necessary.
[0033]
The medal channel 40 is a space located on the downstream side of the inclined surface of the pachinko ball drop plate 10, and the medals M passing through the slits 20a of the pachinko ball blocking plate 20 pass through the medal channel 40 and are counted by the counting means. Passing through the medal 41.
As in the case of the pachinko ball stream 30, the medal flow path 40 is provided with one or two or more medal rectifying plates 40a that partition the space along a predetermined direction.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, two medals rectifying the space into three at a predetermined pitch along the direction in which the medals M pass and flow (that is, the reciprocating direction of the pachinko ball drop plate 10). A plate 40a is provided. Thereby, the medals M flowing into the medal channel 40 through the slits 20a of the pachinko ball blocking plate 20 are guided by the medal rectifying plate 40a, guided to the three channels, and aligned in a predetermined direction. In this state, it passes through the medal sensor 41 located downstream.
[0034]
Here, it is preferable that the pitch (interval) of each of the medal rectifying plates 40a forming the plurality of flow paths is set to be larger than the diameter of the medal M and smaller than twice the diameter of the medal M.
In this way, the medal flow path partitioned by each straightening plate is large enough to allow the medals M to pass one by one, so that two or more medals M flow into each flow path at the same time, causing a medal clogging or the like. Can be prevented.
[0035]
As shown in FIG. 2, the medal sensor 41 is provided on a slope partitioned by the medal rectifying plate 40a on the downstream side of the medal flow path 40, and is a counting means for counting the number of medals M that fall and pass one by one.
In the present embodiment, the medal sensors 41 are provided at three places, one for each space, corresponding to the three spaces partitioned by the medal rectifying plate 40a.
Note that the medal sensor 41 includes, for example, a photo sensor, a magnetic sensor, and the like, like the pachinko ball sensor 31 described above. Then, the sensor signal from the medal sensor 41 is input to the counting processing unit to perform a counting process, and a predetermined counting result is displayed on the display unit 4.
[0036]
Further, on the further downstream side of the medal flow path 40, a slope 40b is formed so that three spaces separated by the medal rectifying plate 40a merge into one. As a result, the medals M that have been subjected to the counting process are merged into one place through the slope 40b.
The counted medals M joined on the slope 40b are conveyed and guided to a medal circulation route as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and are discharged to the outside of the counter through a discharge port (not shown).
As in the case of pachinko balls, medals released outside the counter are received by the circulation route such as a replenishment tank and collected at the hall side, and if necessary, excess medals are returned to the player. Become.
[0037]
The configuration and functions of the existing game medium counter are substantially the same as those of the existing game medium counter, except for the above-described components of the game medium counter 1 according to the present embodiment. It is almost the same.
Therefore, although a detailed description has been omitted, the gaming medium counter 1 according to the present embodiment includes a ticket issuing machine that issues a ticket (prize voucher) displaying the counting result and the like, an insertion slot for a membership card, and various operations. Each component, such as a button, provided in a normal game medium counter is provided (see FIG. 1).
[0038]
Next, an operation in the case of counting the pachinko balls P and the medals M using the gaming medium counter 1 of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the gaming medium counter 1 counts both the pachinko balls P and the medals M at the same time, but it goes without saying that the counting of only the pachinko balls or the counting of the medals can be performed.
[0039]
First, when counting is performed using the game medium counter 1, a pachinko ball and a medal to be counted are put into the hopper 2.
The pachinko balls and medals thrown into the hopper 2 flow toward the slot 3 on the bottom of the hopper, and fall from the slot 3 into the counter.
As shown in FIG. 2, the pachinko balls and the medals that have flowed into the counter fall in a mixed state on the pachinko ball drop plate 10 that is inclined to the lower side of the slot.
The pachinko ball drop plate 10 is reciprocated at a predetermined width and speed along the inclined surface by the driving means 50, and among the dropped game media, only the pachinko ball P passes through the drop hole 11 and the pachinko ball flow. It falls and flows into the road 30. At this time, the pachinko ball P falls along the direction in which the drop holes 11 are arranged, and is guided by the pachinko rectifying plate 30a. Is counted.
[0040]
On the other hand, among the game media dropped on the pachinko ball drop plate 10, the medal M does not pass through the drop hole 11, and is conveyed as it is on the inclined surface to the downstream side.
At this time, the pachinko ball dropping plate 10 is reciprocated by the driving means 50 with a stroke larger than the diameter of the medal M, and the medal M is reciprocated by being hooked on the uneven portion 12 having a sawtooth cross section of the pachinko dropping plate 10, As the pachinko drop plate 10 reciprocates, it rises and returns upward, and is aligned flat along the inclined surface.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, the medals M arranged in a flat manner sequentially pass through the slits formed by the pachinko ball blocking plates and flow into the medal flow path 40 side.
The medals M that have flowed into the medal channel 40 pass through the inclined surface while being guided by the medal rectifying plate 40a, pass through each medal sensor 41, and are counted.
[0041]
The counted pachinko balls P and medals M are guided and conveyed to a pachinko ball circulation route and a medal circulation route, respectively, and are discharged outside the counter from a discharge port (not shown) or the like.
In addition, the counting result is issued to a player or the like as a prize exchange ticket indicating the number of balls or the like on a ticket issuing machine (not shown), and the player or the like receiving the ticket presents the exchange ticket to the prize exchange. , Can be exchanged for desired prizes.
[0042]
As described above, in the gaming medium counting machine 1 according to the present embodiment, the pachinko balls P and the medals M put into the hopper 2 firstly show that only the pachinko balls P pass through the falling holes 11 and the pachinko counting means side. Can be selected. The medals M pass through the slits 20a formed by the pachinko ball blocking plate 20, and are selected on the medal counting means side. At this time, since the pachinko ball drop plate 10 reciprocates slidably along the inclined surface, the falling of the pachinko ball P and the movement of the medal M on the inclined surface are performed quickly and smoothly.
In this manner, the pachinko ball P and the medal M can be separated and guided to the respective counting means only by reciprocating the pachinko ball drop plate 10.
The pachinko ball drop plate 10 is composed of a simple plate-like member, and reciprocating the plate-like member along the inclined surface can be easily realized only by the driving means 50 having a simple structure including the simple motor 51 and the like. it can.
[0043]
Therefore, unlike the conventional counter, the game medium counter 1 of the present embodiment does not require complicated and large-sized devices and structures such as a high-speed rotating turntable and a belt conveyor, and has only a simple configuration. Thereby, the pachinko ball P and the medal M can be accurately separated.
Accordingly, the multifunctional game medium counter 1 having a simple configuration that is reduced in size and weight can save space in an installation place in a game hall or the like.
In addition, the gaming medium counting machine 1 having a simple configuration has no troubles, has no risk of hands or fingers getting caught in the belt conveyor or the like, and does not cause any trouble such as injury to the user. It is possible to realize an excellent game medium counting machine with high security and safety.
[0044]
As described above, the game medium counter according to the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment. However, the game medium counter according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be variously modified within the scope of the present invention. It is needless to say that the change can be implemented.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, as an example of the game medium counter of the present invention, a horizontal counter is shown as shown in FIG. 1, but the counter to which the present invention is applied is a horizontal counter. It is not limited to machines.
[0045]
For example, a vertical counter as shown in FIG. 4 can be used.
Generally, horizontal counters are smaller than vertical counters, and can be installed at any location regardless of the installation location.For example, they are installed at a prize exchange or a hall entrance of a game hall. It is used as a game machine integrated type installed at the lower part of the front of a game machine (pachinko machine). On the other hand, a vertical counter is formed in the same size as a gaming machine, and is used as an in-island installation type installed in parallel with the gaming machine, such as at the end of a gaming machine island (pachinko island) or between gaming machines. Can be
The game medium counting machine according to the present invention has a reciprocating pachinko ball drop plate having a drop hole through which a pachinko ball can pass and a medal cannot pass, and a medal passes without a pachinko ball passing inside the counting machine. The outer shape and the mode of the counter are not particularly limited as long as the pachinko ball blocking plate forming a possible slit is provided, and the counter may be a vertical or horizontal counter.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the gaming medium counter of the present invention, a multifunctional type capable of supporting both pachinko balls and medals with only a simple configuration without requiring a large-sized and complicated device or the like. Can be realized.
Thus, according to the present invention, a small-sized and light-weight multifunctional counter having a simple configuration saves space at an installation place, and does not cause troubles such as failure, misuse, injury to a user, and the like. It is possible to provide a game medium counter excellent in operability and safety.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a game medium counter according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a main part showing an internal configuration of a game medium counter according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a main part plan view showing the internal configuration of the game medium counter according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a game medium counter according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 game media counting machine
2 Hopper
3 Input port
4 Display
10 Pachinko ball drop board
11 Drop hole
12 Uneven part
20 Pachinko ball blocking plate
20a slit
30 Pachinko ball channel
30a Pachinko ball current plate
31 Pachinko ball sensor
40 medal channel
40a Medal straightening plate
41 Medal sensor
50 driving means
51 motor

Claims (9)

A game medium insertion unit capable of inserting pachinko balls and medals as game media to be counted;
A pachinko ball drop plate that is inclined at the lower side of the game medium input portion and has a drop hole through which pachinko balls can pass and medals cannot pass, and which can reciprocate along an inclined surface. When,
A pachinko ball blocking plate that stands upright on the slanted surface downstream of the pachinko ball dropping plate, and forms a slit between the pachinko ball falling plate and the plate surface that cannot pass pachinko balls and allows medal to pass. When,
Pachinko ball counting means for counting pachinko balls that have passed through the pachinko ball falling plate,
Medal counting means for counting medals that have passed the pachinko ball blocking plate,
A game medium counting machine comprising: The gaming medium counter according to claim 1, wherein the pachinko ball drop plate has a plurality of concave and convex portions on which a medal can be locked on the plate surface. 3. The game medium counter according to claim 2, wherein the uneven portion of the pachinko ball drop plate has a saw-tooth cross section. The game medium counter according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a plurality of drop holes of the pachinko ball drop plate are arranged in one or more rows along a predetermined direction. 5. The game medium counter according to claim 1, further comprising one or two or more pachinko ball rectifying plates that partition a space through which a pachinko ball under the pachinko ball drop plate passes along a predetermined direction. 6. The game medium counting machine according to claim 1, further comprising one or two or more medal rectifying plates that partition a space through which medals on the downstream side of the inclined surface of the pachinko ball drop plate pass along a predetermined direction. . 7. The game medium counting machine according to claim 1, further comprising a driving means for reciprocating the pachinko ball dropping plate along the inclined surface. 8. The game medium counter according to claim 7, wherein the driving means changes the width and / or speed of the reciprocating motion of the pachinko ball drop plate. 10. The game medium counter according to claim 8, wherein the driving means reciprocates the pachinko ball drop plate with a stroke greater than the diameter of the medal.

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