JP2006055181A - Fed token sorting device for game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fed token sorting device for a game machine which makes fraudulent count-up using a fraudulent instrument difficult and to improve the satisfaction degree of a game hall manager. <P>SOLUTION: The fed token sorting device for the game machine comprising a path for making tokens pass through and a sensor for detecting the tokens passing through the path is provided with a decision part for deciding the true passing of the tokens by synchronizing the light projecting timing of light projecting pulses by the light projecting element of the sensor and the light receiving timing of the light receiving element of the sensor and a pulse change execution part for changing the light projecting pulses to be projected in the light projecting element. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an inserted medal sorting device for a gaming machine such as a slot machine having a passage for passing medals (medals, coins, coins) and a sensor for detecting medals passing through the passage.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an inserted medal sorting device (so-called medal selector) for gaming machines, a medal rolling passage that is inclined obliquely downward from a vertical direction inside a medal slot has been proposed. This inserted medal sorting device sorts the medal according to the appropriate / inappropriate size in the process of rolling and transporting by the weight of the medal when the medal passes through the rolling passage, and taking in and returning the medal It is carried out.

  The inserted medal sorting device not only inclines the whole passage downward in the medal rolling conveyance direction but also in the medal thickness direction on the side of the passage, so that the weight of the medal works effectively. It is comprised so that a small diameter medal can be selected efficiently (refer patent document 1).

In addition, as another inserted medal sorting device, a light detecting element is provided with a passage detection sensor that reflects the light emitted from the light projecting element by the reflecting plate to change the light traveling direction, thereby detecting the passage of the medal. The thing is also proposed (refer patent document 2).
In this inserted medal sorting device, the sensor enters the detection state when the medal directly blocks the optical axis from the light projecting element.

In such a inserted medal sorting device, a fraudulent act that causes a gaming machine to recognize that a medal has passed without using a medal becomes a problem.
As a method for preventing this fraudulent act, a method has been proposed in which two passage detection sensors are arranged in the medal passage direction and the passage direction is detected based on how the outputs of the passage detection sensors overlap (see Patent Document 3). .
According to this method, when an illegal device crafted in an L shape is detected by the sensor, the return direction can be detected because the passing direction can be detected, and it is possible to detect that the passing is not a medal.

  However, in the case of a transmission type sensor that uses a light projecting element and a light receiving unit as a sensor, if a fraudulent instrument equipped with an unauthorized light projecting element is used (so-called fraudulent action known as light goto), it is detected as if a medal has passed There is a problem that it may be allowed to.

  In detail, for example, if the light of the light projecting element is blocked by an unauthorized device and the light receiving unit can project light with the unauthorized light projecting element in the same pattern as the light receiving pattern to detect that the medal has passed, the medal passes. It is possible that the credit is counted up (effect of passing medals) by erroneously detecting that it has been made.

  Once a fraudulent device capable of performing such a fraudulent act is manufactured, the fraudulent counting can be easily performed thereafter, which may lead to a decrease in the profit of the game hall in which the gaming machine is installed.

JP 2002-172203 A JP 2002-248210 A JP 2002-282413 A

  In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention proposes a gaming machine input medal sorting device that cannot easily perform unauthorized counting up using unauthorized equipment, and improves the satisfaction of gaming hall managers. Objective.

  The present invention relates to an input medal sorting device for a gaming machine comprising a passage for allowing medals to pass through and a sensor for detecting medals passing through the passage, wherein a light projection pulse is projected by a light projecting element of the sensor. A determination unit that determines the genuine passage of medals by synchronizing the light timing with the light reception timing of the light receiving element of the sensor, and a pulse change execution unit that changes a light projection pulse projected by the light projecting element. This is a medal sorting device for gaming machines.

The medals include setting a medal or a coin coin.
The light projecting element includes setting a light projecting element such as an LED (light emitting diode).

The light receiving unit includes setting a light receiving element such as a phototransistor or a photodiode, or a light receiving element in which the light receiving element is pre-circuited.
The determination unit includes a unit that performs determination, such as a circuit that executes determination processing.

  The pulse change execution unit is configured by means for changing a pulse, such as a timing generation circuit for generating pulse timing, or a circuit including a cycle setting circuit for setting a cycle for generating timing in the timing generation circuit. including.

  With this configuration, it is possible to prevent fraudulent acts that disguise the normal passage of medals. That is, for example, even if there is a fraudulent instrument that directs the passage of medals with a certain light projection pulse using a fraudulent light projecting element, by changing the light projection pulse, the passage of medals with this fraudulent instrument You can disable the production.

  As an aspect of the present invention, the pulse change execution unit may be configured to stop at least one next light projection pulse when the determination unit determines that unauthorized incident light is detected.

  Accordingly, when a medal other than the genuine passage is detected, the medal is not detected due to the stop of the light projection pulse, and erroneous counting due to fraud can be prevented.

  As an aspect of the present invention, the pulse change execution unit may be configured to delay the next light projection pulse when the determination unit determines that the illegal incident light is detected.

  Accordingly, when a medal other than the genuine passage is detected, the medal is not detected during the delay due to the delay of the light projection pulse, and erroneous counting due to fraud can be prevented.

  Moreover, even if the light projection pulse after the delay has the same light projection period, the light projection timing as a whole is different from that before the delay (that is, not at the timing on the extension line of the light projection pulse before the delay). In addition, it is possible to invalidate the effect of passing medals by an unauthorized tool or the like.

  Further, as an aspect of the present invention, the pulse change execution unit may be configured to change the pulse period of the light projection pulse when it is determined that unauthorized light is detected by the determination unit.

  As a result, even if a fraudulent instrument that produces the passage of medals is created by the same fraudulent projection pulse as the pre-change floodlight pulse, if fraud is detected when the fraudulent instrument is inserted or misaligned The fraudulent instrument can be invalidated by changing the pulse period.

  As an aspect of the present invention, the pulse change execution unit can be configured to change the pulse period under a predetermined condition unrelated to the determination by the determination unit.

  Whether the predetermined condition is a condition based on the date and time such as daily, weekly, or monthly, a condition based on time such that the drive time elapses in the same pulse cycle, a condition based on activation such as every time the gaming machine is activated, or whether to change Including regular or irregular conditions that are not related to whether or not medals have been passed.

  With the above-described configuration, it is possible to make it difficult to use unauthorized equipment. Even if the pulse period of the illegal light projection pulse of the illegal instrument coincides by chance and the medal passes are produced, and the fraud cannot be judged by the judgment part, the pulse period is changed and continued illegal use Can be prevented.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent unauthorized counting up using an unauthorized instrument.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

  As a first embodiment, a slot machine in which the inserted medal sorting device includes a sensor of a type that stops the next light projection pulse when an asynchronous light reception signal is detected will be described.

  First, with the perspective view shown in FIG. 1 and the front view shown in FIG. 2, the appearance of the slot machine 1 installed in the game hall as an example of the gaming machine equipped with the inserted medal sorting device, and the inside with the entire door 5 opened The overview of is described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine 1 has an insertion slot 2 for receiving medals M one by one on one side of the game operation surface on the front side, and a normal-sized medal inserted into the insertion slot 2 is stored inside. It has a built-in sorting function that returns medals of a nonconforming size to the external return port 3.

  Also, a return button 4 is adjacent to the side of the insertion slot 2, and the medal M is returned to the return slot 3 even when the player presses the return button 4 to stop the game.

FIG. 2 shows the inner surface of the door in which the front panel of the slot machine 1 is opened in a single-opening manner. The slot machine body 1a side having the opening has a reel 6 at the top and a medal taking in at the bottom. It has a hopper 7, a medal return passage (not shown), and a power supply device 8.
On the other hand, the reel cover 9, the inserted medal sorting device (medal selector) 10, and the return port 3 are arranged in this order on the inner surface on the return port 3 side.
With the above-described configuration, the player can perform a slot game in which the medal M is inserted into the insertion slot 2 and the reel 6 is rotated / stopped according to the inserted number of the medal M.

  Next, the inserted medal selection shown together with the front view in FIG. 3, the exploded perspective view shown in FIG. 4, the front view with the opening and closing plate shown in FIG. 5, and the perspective view seen from the back side shown in FIG. The configuration of the device 10 will be described.

  The inserted medal sorting device 10 includes a U-shaped substrate 11 and an opening / closing plate 12 in a plan view. The support shaft 13 on the opening / closing plate 12 side is supported by the bearings 14 and 14 on the substrate 11 side. Further, the opening / closing plate 12 is constantly biased toward the substrate 11 by the spring 15, and the medal passage 16 is formed by both the substrate 11 and the opening / closing plate 12.

  The medal passage 16 is formed in an L shape having an inlet 17 corresponding to the insertion port 2 and a lower outlet 18. The medal passage 16 includes a vertical side portion extending downward from the inlet 17, a lower side portion extending obliquely downward and reaching the outlet 18, and a curved portion that connects both sides in a curved shape.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a movable guide plate 20 is provided on the back side of the substrate 11 that can swing around the support shaft 19. The guide portion 21 of the movable guide plate 20 is provided on the top of the medal passage 16 from the opening 22 of the substrate 11 as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. It is configured to be a conveyance guide.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a blocker arm 20b as a discharge member located on the back side of the substrate 11 is integrally bent and formed on the movable guide plate 20, and the lower end blocker portion 20c of the blocker arm 20b is formed on the medal passage 16. The medal passage 16 can be projected and retracted from the opening 16a on the downstream side.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a lever 25 that is driven by a solenoid 24 is provided on the back side of the substrate 11, and the free end 25 a of the lever 25 is opposed to the upper end 20 a of the movable guide plate 20. The upper end 20a of the movable guide plate 20 is pressed by the free end 25a of the lever 25 at the time of turning ON, and the upper end side of the medal M is conveyed and guided by the guide portion 21.

  Further, the lower end blocker portion 20c of the blocker arm 20b is moved backward from the opening portion 16a of the medal passage 16 to the back side, and the conveyance guide on the upper end side of the medal M is released by the guide portion 21 when the solenoid 24 is OFF.

Accordingly, from the outlet 18, only a medal M of an appropriate size having a disk shape of a certain size provided exclusively for a gaming machine is accepted and allowed.
A sensor 30 that detects and counts the medal M passing through the passage 16 is attached to the passage wall of the substrate 11 forming the medal passage 16 immediately before the outlet 18.

  With the above configuration, the medal M1 can be selected by returning the different diameter medal M1, and the regular medal M passing through the medal passage 16 can be counted by the sensor 30.

Next, the perspective view shown in FIG. 7, the front view shown in FIG. 8, the left side sectional view shown in FIG. 9 (the sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 8), and the right side sectional view shown in FIG. The configuration of the sensor 30 will be described together with (B-B arrow sectional view).
In FIG. 8, an arrow R indicates the passing direction of the medal M.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the sensor 30 has a circuit board 33 disposed in cases 31 and 32 having a two-part structure. A protruding piece 34 extending upward is integrally formed on the upper portion of one case 31 positioned on the medal M passing side, and an attachment hole 35 and a positioning hole 36 are formed in the protruding piece 34.

Further, one case 31 is integrally formed with an extending portion 38 that extends from the opening 37 of the substrate 11 shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 to the upper portion of the medal passage 16.
One case 31 is fixed to the back surface of the substrate 11, and an opening 40 is formed in the passage wall of the medal passage 16 of the substrate 11 corresponding to an optical axis to be described later in a portion below the extending portion 38. The entire sensor 30 has a compact arrangement that can project and receive light from only one side of the medal path 16.

As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 9 (cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 8), the reflector 50 is attached to the above-described extending portion 38 on the upstream side of the sensor 30 in the medal passage direction. Yes.
A light projecting element 44a made of a light emitting diode (ie, LED) is provided on the upper side of one case 31.

A light receiving portion 41a made of a phototransistor or a photodiode is provided on the lower side inside the case.
The light projecting element 44a and the light receiving portion 41a are on the upstream side in the medal passage direction, and this pair constitutes an optical detection sensor S1.
Corresponding to these elements 44a and 41a, one case 31 is formed with slits 46a and 47a as optical axis paths.

  As a result, as shown as the optical axis X1 in FIG. 9, the light projected from the light projecting element 44a in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the medal passage direction is reflected downward by the reflecting plate 50 and enters the light receiving unit 41a. Will be.

  As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 10 (the cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 8), on the downstream side of the sensor 30 in the medal passage direction, the reflecting plate 50 is fixed to the extending portion 38. A light receiving portion 41b is disposed in the case 31 at a height position corresponding to the optical element 44a (FIG. 9).

A light projecting element 44b is disposed in the case 31 at a height corresponding to the light receiving portion 41a (FIG. 9).
The light projecting element 44b and the light receiving portion 41b are on the downstream side in the medal passage direction, and this pair constitutes an optical detection sensor S2.
Corresponding to these elements 44b and 41b, one case 31 is formed with slits 46b and 47b as optical axis paths.

  As a result, as shown as an optical axis X2 in FIG. 10, the light projected from the light projecting element 44b so as to intersect the medal passage direction is reflected by the reflecting plate 50 and enters the light receiving unit 41b.

The lead wires 48 a and 48 b of the light projecting elements 44 a and 44 b and the lead wires 42 a and 42 b of the light receiving portions 4 a 1 and 41 b are connected to the circuit board 33.
The light amounts of the light projecting elements 44a and 44b are set so that the light receiving parts 41a and 41b enter a light incident state when entering the corresponding light receiving parts 41a and 41b.
Here, the incident light amounts that enter the light receiving portions 41a and 41b from the two light projecting elements 44a and 44b described above are configured to have the same level.

  The detection sensor S1 has a light projecting element 44a on the upper side and a light receiving part 41a on the lower side, and the detection sensor S2 has a light receiving part 41b on the upper side and a light projecting element 44b on the lower side. Provided.

  As described above, the detection sensor S1 and the detection sensor S2 set the arrangement relationship of the light projecting / receiving elements so as to be upside down, thereby making it difficult to perform illegal acts due to light goto.

  Further, a detection detection sensor S2 shown in FIG. 10 is disposed on the side of the detection sensor S1 shown in FIG. 9, and the detection detection sensors S1 and S2 are integrated into cases 31 and 32 as an integrated unit.

  Note that LEDs (light emitting diodes) can be used as the light projecting elements 44a and 44b, and light receiving elements in which the light receiving elements are pre-circuited are used as the light receiving parts 41a and 41b.

  By attaching the sensor 30 configured as described above to the passage wall of the medal passage 16 in the inserted medal sorting device 10, a total of two optical axes X1 and X2 (not shown in FIG. 11). For convenience, the optical axis can be formed with a circle.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the medal M moves along the medal path 16 in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and the medal M blocks the optical axes X1 and X2 in this order, thereby detecting the passage of the medal M. it can.

  Next, a control circuit of the inserted medal sorting device 10 provided with the detection sensors S1 and S2 will be described with a control circuit block diagram shown in FIG.

  The control circuit includes a light receiving element 41 (41a, 41b), a light projecting element 44 (44a, 44b), a constant voltage circuit 61, an oscillation circuit 62, an amplifier circuit 65, a light projecting element driving circuit 67, a timing generating circuit 68, and a determination. The circuit 70 and the output circuit 81 are used.

  A timing generation circuit 68 is connected to the next stage of the oscillation circuit 62, a light projecting element driving circuit 67 is connected to the next stage, and a light projecting element 44 is connected to the next stage, and the timing generation circuit 68 is also connected. The determination circuit 70 is connected to the next stage, and the output circuit 81 is connected to the next stage.

  An amplification circuit 65 is connected to the next stage of the light receiving element 41, and a determination circuit 70 is connected to the next stage.

The light receiving element 41 is an element that converts a received optical signal into an electrical signal.
The light projecting element 44 is an element that converts the drive pulse of the light projecting element drive circuit 67 into light.
The constant voltage circuit 61 is a constant voltage generation circuit for stably operating each block.
The oscillation circuit 62 is a circuit for generating a reference oscillation output.

The amplifier circuit 65 is a circuit for amplifying the signal to a level at which it can be easily processed.
The light projecting element driving circuit 67 is a circuit for driving the light projecting element with the drive pulse generated by the timing generating circuit 68.

  The timing generation circuit 68 is a circuit for generating the projection element drive pulse and the operation timing of the determination circuit. The timing generation circuit 68 stops the projection pulse based on the determination result of the determination circuit 70, stops the determination by the determination circuit 70 at the timing of the stopped projection pulse, and outputs the determination result at this timing. Is also executed, and the light projection pulse can be changed by this stop.

  The determination circuit 70 is a circuit that determines an operation state according to the level of the input signal at each operation timing.

The synchronization processing circuit (1) 71 is a circuit for determining an input state when a light projection pulse is generated.
The synchronization processing circuit (2) 72 is a circuit for determining an input state when no light projection pulse is generated.

The output circuit 81 is a circuit for outputting the signal processed by the determination circuit to the outside.
The circuit elements 41, 44, 61, 62, 65, 67, 68, 70, 81 are configured to be supplied with power from the constant voltage circuit 61.

With the configuration described above, the modulated light type sensor 30 is configured in which a pulse current is supplied to the light projecting element 44 and the light projecting element 44 is intermittently turned on (for example, repeatedly turned on for about 5 to 10 μs and turned off for about 100 to 500 μs). Can do.
By using modulated light, heat generation of the light-emitting element is suppressed, so that a larger amount of emitted light can be obtained.

  The light projecting element 44 can convert the drive pulse generated by the timing generation circuit 68 into light, and project the light projection pulse after the conversion onto the light receiving element 41. Since the determination circuit 70 receives from the timing generation circuit 68 the same operation timing as the drive pulse received by the light projecting element 44, the pulse of the optical signal received by the light receiving element 41 from the light receiving element 41 is It can be determined whether the signal is a normal signal synchronized with the light projection pulse.

  The determination result by the determination circuit 70 can be sent to the timing generation circuit 68, and the timing generation circuit 68 can change the operation timing based on this.

The synchronization is, for example, a method in which the light receiving element 41 side controls lighting of the light projecting element 44, and the light receiving element 41 side recognizes the light emission timing of the light projecting element 44 in advance, and the light projecting element 44 emits light. This means that the light received during processing is processed as a signal.
By this synchronization, the efficiency of removing light from other than the light projecting element 44 can be increased.

  Note that the control circuit of the inserted medal sorting device 10 described above may be designed so as to enter a light incident state after receiving a light reception signal synchronized with the light emission timing several times. In this case, the removal rate of light from other than the light projecting element 44 can be improved. Similarly, the light shielding state may be designed so as to be in a light shielding state when light is not received several times.

Next, the operation executed by the control circuit of the inserted medal sorting device 10 will be described with reference to the processing flowchart shown in FIG.
Here, as shown in the phantom line in the figure, A indicates the non-emission time of the projection pulse, and B indicates the projection time of the projection pulse.

First, the control circuit adds 1 to the timing counter n and counts up (step n1).
If the timing counter n is A + B (step n2: YES), it is determined whether the pulse stop signal is ON (step n3).

  If the pulse stop signal is ON (step n3: YES), the pulse stop signal is reset, the timing counter is reset (step n4), and the process returns to step n1. As a result, the determination that the pulse is stopped and the output of the determination result are not performed, and the medal number cannot be counted up due to fraud.

  If the pulse stop signal is not ON but OFF (step n3: NO), it is determined that the synchronization processing circuit (1) 71 makes the determination, the projection pulse is turned OFF, and the timing counter is reset (step n5). .

  As a determination by the synchronization processing circuit (1) 71, the control circuit determines a current output state (light reception timing by the light receiving element 41) and a synchronous light reception signal (determination circuit 70 generates a timing) in order to determine an input state at the time of light emission pulse generation. The operation timing received from the circuit 68 is compared (step n6).

If the comparison results match (step n6: NO), “0” is substituted into the determination result counter data for initialization, the synchronous light reception signal is reset (step n7), and the process returns to step n1.
If the comparison results do not match (step n6: YES), it is determined whether or not the determination result switching counter N is “3” (step n8). Here, by setting the determination result switching counter to a constant of 2 or more, it is set to determine fraud by a plurality of mismatches, and it is determined to be fraudulent when the comparison result is mismatched due to dust or the like. Is preventing. The determination result switching counter N may be a constant other than “3”.

  If N = 3 (step n8: YES), it has occurred continuously for a predetermined number of times (three times), so it is determined that the light incident state has been reversed, the output state is reversed, and the synchronous light reception signal is reset. (Step n9), the process returns to step n1.

  If N = 3 is not satisfied (step n8: NO), the determination result switching counter N is incremented by one, the synchronous light reception signal is reset (step n10), and the process returns to step n1.

If the timing counter n is not A + B in step n2 (step n2: NO), it is compared whether the timing counter n is smaller than A (step n11).
If n <A (step n11), the light reception state is confirmed by the synchronization processing circuit (2) 72 (step n12).

  If the synchronization processing circuit (2) 72 determines that there is light reception (step n13: YES), the pulse stop signal is turned ON (step n13) because it is an improper state where light is received at the timing when light should not be received. n14), the process returns to step n1.

  If the synchronization processing circuit (2) 72 determines that there is no light reception (step n13: NO), it returns to step n1 as it is because it is in a normal state where there is no light reception at the timing when there should be no light reception.

  If n <A is not satisfied in step n11 (step n11: NO), it is determined whether or not the pulse stop signal is ON (step n15).

  If the pulse stop signal is ON (step n15: YES), since the fraud has already been detected, the process of the synchronous processing circuit (1) is not performed, and the process returns to step n1.

  If the pulse stop signal is OFF (step n15: NO), the drive pulse of the light projecting element 44 is turned ON, and the light receiving state of the synchronization processing circuit (1) 71 is confirmed (step n16).

  If there is light reception in the synchronization processing circuit (1) 71 (step n17: YES), it is considered that regular light is received, so the synchronization light reception signal is turned on (step n18), and the process returns to step n1.

  If no light is received by the synchronization processing circuit (1) 71 (step n17: NO), the process directly returns to step n1.

  With the above operation, when there is an unauthorized detection, the drive pulse sent to the light projecting element 41 is stopped by the pulse stop signal, so that the number of medals cannot be counted up due to an illegal act.

  If unauthorized detection continues, the pulse stop signal is turned on all the time and the drive pulse is stopped. Accordingly, during that time, the determination circuit 70 does not perform the process of determining the light projection by the light projecting element 44 and the light reception by the light receiving element 41, and the count-up of the medal M is continued.

Thereby, as shown in the time chart diagram of FIG. 14, it is possible to prevent unauthorized counting up using an unauthorized device.
In the time chart according to FIG. 14, the detection sensor S1 is noted. Further, the illegal instrument of this example blocks the light of the light projecting element 44, projects a high frequency light projecting pulse having a frequency much higher than the light projecting pulse of the light projecting element 44 to the light receiving element 41, and causes the light receiving element 41 to malfunction. It is about to try.

  First, a pulse at the time of starting a high-frequency light projection pulse by an unauthorized instrument indicated as t1 is received by the light receiving unit 41a which is the light receiving element 41 of the detection sensor S1.

  At this time, since it is the timing that should not have been projected, the synchronization processing circuit (2) 72 makes a determination and determines that the received light is in an illegal state during the no-light-receiving timing.

  Then, the pulse stop signal is turned ON as indicated by t2, and this state continues until the timing at which the next light projection pulse ends as indicated by t3.

  Accordingly, at the timing of the next light projection pulse, the light projection pulse is stopped and the light reception detection is not performed, and the medal count-up is not performed, and the detection sensor S1 does not output as indicated by t4.

  Since this series of processing is repeatedly performed as shown in the figure, even if an illegal instrument attempts to count up illegally, the projection pulse continues to stop and does not count up.

  In this way, even if an illegal act called “light goto” is performed, the output switching from the output circuit 81 is stopped by an illegal input signal, and the illegal count can be prevented without counting up the number of medals.

In addition, as other light goto, for example, by two unauthorized light projecting elements,
Initial state: unauthorized light projecting element 1 = lighting, unauthorized light projecting element 2 = lighting Step 1: unauthorized light projecting element 1 = off, unauthorized light projecting element 2 = lighting Step 2: unauthorized light projecting element 1 = off, unauthorized light projecting Element 2 = Lighting off Step 3: Unauthorized light projecting element 1 = Lighting, unauthorized light projecting element 2 = Lighting off Step 4: Unauthorized light projecting element 1 = Lighting, unauthorized light projecting element 2 = Lighting is performed in a timely manner, and the medal passing is produced. Some are done. By repeating this, it is attempted to count up credits to the full as if many medals were inserted.

  Even in such a case, if the timing of the high-frequency pulse does not match, the illegal counting cannot be performed, and the counting itself is stopped by the illegal detection due to the misalignment during insertion of the illegal instrument or during the medal passing effect. Can prevent unauthorized counting up.

  As a second embodiment, a slot machine in which the inserted medal sorting device is provided with a sensor of a type that stops the next light projection pulse and changes the light projection period when an asynchronous light reception signal is detected will be described.

  In this case, the configuration of the slot machine 1, the inserted medal sorting device 10, and the configuration of the sensor 30 are the same as those in the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS.

  A control circuit of the inserted medal sorting device 10 including the detection sensors S1 and S2 will be described with reference to the control circuit block diagram shown in FIG.

In this control circuit, a projection period setting circuit 64 is connected to the next stage of the oscillation circuit 62 in addition to the timing generation circuit 68, and the timing generation circuit 68 is connected to the next stage.
Here, the light projection period setting circuit 64 is a circuit for setting the light projection period, and is configured to be supplied with power from the constant voltage circuit 61.

  Since other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same elements, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

  Since the light projection cycle can be set by the above control circuit, the light projection cycle can be changed.

  Next, the operation executed by the control circuit of the inserted medal sorting device 10 will be described with reference to the processing flowchart shown in FIG.

  The control circuit adds 1 to the timing counter n and counts up (step p1). If the timing counter n is A + B (step p2: YES), the control circuit changes the projection cycle (step p3), and then changes the pulse. It is determined whether the stop signal is ON (step p4).

  Steps p4 to p19, which are other processes, are the same as steps n3 to n18 of the first embodiment described above, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  With the above operation, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 17, the projection cycle is C, E, D, F, C, E, and so on at every projection pulse regardless of the determination result of the determination circuit 70. Can be changed.

  Thereby, in addition to the effect of Example 1 mentioned above, the avoidance capability from the illegal signal which is going to synchronize can be improved. That is, it becomes more difficult to create a fraudulent instrument with a fraudulent light projection period that matches the light projection period of the light projecting element 44, and illegal acts can be prevented.

  The change of the light projection cycle is, for example, changed every day, changed when the operating time of the slot machine 1 in one light projection cycle reaches a predetermined time, changed when the slot machine 1 is started, etc. It is better to change it longer or shorter according to

  The light projection period to be set may be set by taking out a random number as a random number within a predetermined range (for example, 50 msec to 200 msec) or arbitrarily taking out a plurality of preset periods.

  As a third embodiment, a slot machine in which the inserted medal sorting device is provided with a sensor of a type that stops the next projection pulse and changes the projection cycle when an asynchronous light reception signal is detected will be described.

  In this case, the configuration of the slot machine 1, the inserted medal sorting device 10, and the configuration of the sensor 30 are the same as those in the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS.

  A control circuit of the inserted medal sorting device 10 including the detection sensors S1 and S2 will be described with reference to a control circuit block diagram shown in FIG.

  In this control circuit, a light projection period setting circuit 64 is connected to the next stage of the determination circuit 70 in addition to the output circuit 81 and the timing generation circuit 68.

  Since other configurations are the same as those of the second embodiment described above, the same reference numerals are given to the same elements, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

  With the above control circuit, it is possible to change the light projection period based on the determination result of the determination circuit 70.

  Next, the operation executed by the control circuit of the inserted medal sorting device 10 will be described with reference to the processing flowchart shown in FIG.

  The control circuit adds 1 to the timing counter n and counts up (step s1). If the timing counter n is A + B (step s2: YES), the control circuit determines whether the pulse stop signal is ON (step p3).

  If the pulse stop signal is ON (step n3: YES), the projection cycle is changed (step s4), and the process returns to step n1.

  As a result, if the pulse is stopped at the timing of the pulse that is originally projected, the projection cycle is changed.

  In addition, the determination that the pulse is stopped is not performed, and the medal number cannot be counted up due to fraud.

  Steps s5 to s19, which are other processes, are the same as steps n4 to n18 of the first embodiment described above, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  With the above operation, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 20, the projection cycle can be changed when fraud is detected such as C, C, D, F, E, D, D. it can.

In the illustrated example, until a fraud is detected, a light projection pulse is projected at a light projection period C to detect the presence or absence of light reception, and light incident / light shielding is output.
When the fraud is detected, the projection pulse is stopped, and the subsequent projection cycle is changed to the projection cycle D at the timing of the stopped projection pulse.

While the fraud is detected, the projection cycle is repeatedly changed.
If the fraud is not detected after changing to the light projection period D as shown in the figure, subsequent determination and output are executed in the light projection period D at that time.

  Similarly to the above-described first embodiment, as shown at t1 to t4, an illegal count-up can be prevented by stopping the pulse by receiving light at a timing without receiving light and not counting up.

  The change of the light projection cycle is, for example, changed every day, changed when the operating time of the slot machine 1 in one light projection cycle reaches a predetermined time, changed when the slot machine 1 is started, etc. It is better to change it longer or shorter according to

  The light projection period to be set may be set by taking out a random number as a random number within a predetermined range (for example, 50 msec to 200 msec) or arbitrarily taking out a plurality of preset periods.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 20, while the change of the light projection period is continuously changed from the state of the light projection period C to D, F, E, D, the same period as the light projection period C before the change. It is good also as a setting which does not change to. Thereby, it can prevent that the light projection period after a continuous change corresponds with the light projection period before a change start.

  As a fourth embodiment, a slot machine in which the inserted medal sorting device includes a sensor that simply changes the light projection period regardless of the determination result by the determination circuit 70 will be described.

  In this case, the configuration of the slot machine 1, the inserted medal sorting device 10, and the configuration of the sensor 30 are the same as those in the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS.

  A control circuit of the inserted medal sorting device 10 including the detection sensors S1 and S2 will be described with the control circuit block diagram shown in FIG.

  In this control circuit, a projection period setting circuit 64 is connected to the next stage of the oscillation circuit 62 in addition to the timing generation circuit 68, and the timing generation circuit 68 is connected to the next stage.

  Further, only the output circuit 81 is connected to the next stage of the determination circuit 70 without connecting the timing generation circuit 68. Although the synchronization processing circuit (1) 71 and the synchronization processing circuit (2) 72 are omitted in the drawing, the determination circuit 70 includes the synchronization processing circuit (1) 71 and the synchronization processing circuit in order to detect whether it is illegal. A processing circuit (2) 72 is provided.

  Since other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same elements, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

  Since the light projection cycle can be set by the above control circuit, the light projection cycle can be changed.

  The change of the light projection period is changed according to conditions that are appropriately determined, for example, changed every day, when the operation time of the slot machine 1 in one light emission period reaches a predetermined time, or when the slot machine 1 starts up. Good.

  The light projection period to be set may be set by taking out a random number as a random number within a predetermined range (for example, 50 msec to 200 msec) or arbitrarily taking out a plurality of preset periods.

  Thereby, irrespective of the determination by the determination circuit 70, a light projection period can be changed within a suitable range regularly or irregularly. Therefore, even if an unauthorized device that projects an unauthorized projection pulse with a projection cycle corresponding to the projection cycle of the projection pulse is created, the projection is performed by changing the date, elapse of a predetermined time, or starting up. Since the cycle changes, it is possible to prevent unauthorized counting up by the unauthorized appliance.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the next one pulse that has been detected by the pulse stop signal is stopped. However, a configuration in which a plurality of pulses such as the following two or three are continuously stopped may be used. good. In this case, the stop time of the count-up after detecting fraud can be extended.

  In addition, as described above, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the light projection timing of the next light projection pulse is delayed instead of the structure in which the next pulse in which fraud is detected by the pulse stop signal is stopped. In this case, a configuration may be adopted in which the next light projection pulse is delayed for a predetermined time at the stage where fraud is detected, and the light projection pulse is resumed after the delay.

  As a result, even if the projection cycle of the projection pulse is not changed, the phase of the delayed projection pulse is the same as the phase of the projection pulse before the delay unless the delay time is the same as the time interval of the projection cycle. It will be different. Therefore, it is possible to make it difficult to illegally count up with an unauthorized instrument. For this reason, it is desirable to set the delay time to be different from the light projection period.

  In this case, in the first to third embodiments described above, the delayed projection pulse may be a projection pulse after changing the projection cycle. Even in this case, since the phase shift of the projection pulse is added to the change of the projection cycle, it is possible to make it difficult to illegally count up with an unauthorized instrument.

  Further, in the case of delaying, if the delay time is set to be the same as the time interval of the light projection period, the same effect as that of stopping the next light projection pulse in the first to third embodiments can be obtained.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the light projection pulse is projected by both of the two light projecting elements 44a and 44b and the determination circuit 70 determines the light projection pulse. It is good also as a structure which performs only with the element and performs the determination which synchronized with the light projection pulse by the determination circuit 70 only with respect to one of them. In this case, the other light projecting element may be configured to perform continuous light projection instead of intermittent light projection.

  As described above, by performing synchronization determination for at least one optical axis, detection of the passing direction of the medal M and detection of whether there is unsynchronized light projection in the light receiving unit corresponding to one of the light projecting elements. And fraudulent acts can be prevented.

In correspondence between the configuration of the present invention and the above-described embodiment,
The gaming machine of the present invention corresponds to the slot machine 1 of the embodiment,
Similarly,
The passage corresponds to the medal passage 16,
The light receiving elements correspond to the light receiving portions 41a and 41b,
The pulse change execution unit corresponds to the timing generation circuit 68 and the light projection period setting circuit 64,
The determination unit corresponds to the determination circuit 70,
The medals correspond to the medal M,
The present invention is not limited only to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and many embodiments can be obtained.

The external view of the gaming machine provided with the insertion medal sorting device of the present invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the arrangement | positioning location of an insertion medal sorting device. The front view of an insertion medal sorting device. The exploded perspective view of an insertion medal sorting device. The front view of an insertion medal sorting device shown in the state where an opening-and-closing plate was removed. The perspective view shown in the state which looked at the insertion medal sorting device from the back side. The perspective view of a sensor. The front view of a sensor. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 8. FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 8. Explanatory drawing at the time of passing medal detection. The control circuit block diagram of a sensor. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of a control circuit. The timing chart which shows signal processing. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a sensor control circuit according to the second embodiment. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the control circuit according to the second embodiment. 9 is a timing chart illustrating signal processing according to the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a sensor control circuit according to the third embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a control circuit according to the third embodiment. 9 is a timing chart showing signal processing according to the third embodiment. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a sensor control circuit according to a fourth embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Slot machine 10 ... Insertion medal sorter 16 ... Medal passage 30 ... Sensor 41a, 41b ... Light-receiving part 44a, 44b ... Light projection element 64 ... Light projection period setting circuit 68 ... Timing generation circuit 70 ... Judgment circuit M ... Medal

Claims (5)

A passage through which medals pass,
A game machine input medal sorting device provided with a sensor for detecting medals passing through this passage,
A determination unit that determines the genuine passage of medals by synchronizing the light projection timing of the light projection pulse by the light projection element of the sensor and the light reception timing of the light receiving element of the sensor;
A medal sorting device for a gaming machine comprising a pulse change execution unit for changing a light projection pulse projected by the light projecting element. 2. The inserted medal sorting device for a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the pulse change execution unit is configured to stop at least one next light projection pulse when it is determined that the illegal incident light is detected by the determination unit. 2. The inserted medal sorting device for a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the pulse change execution unit is configured to delay a next light projection pulse when it is determined that unauthorized light is detected by the determination unit. The gaming machine inserted medal selection according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the pulse change execution unit is configured to change a pulse period of the light projection pulse when it is determined that the illegal incident light is detected by the determination unit. apparatus. The gaming machine inserted medal sorting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the pulse change execution unit is configured to change a pulse cycle under a predetermined condition unrelated to the determination of the determination unit.

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