JP2006215898A - Medal selection device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To select a thickness of a medal in addition to an outside diameter thereof to improve selection accuracy. <P>SOLUTION: The medal inputted from a medal input port 21 flows down through a first passage 35, and the outside diameter is roughly selected by a first selection means 36 provided in the first passage 35. Among the medals passing the first selection means 36, only the medal having a prescribed thickness or less flows down to an inlet 39 formed in a bottom face 53 of the first passage 35. The medal flowing in the inlet 39 is branched to a second passage 37 and is made to flow down, fine outside diameter selection is performed by a second selection means 38 provided in the second passage 37, and thereafter, only the genuine medal is guided to a count sensor 41. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a medal sorting device for sorting different diameters and thicknesses of coins (coins) and medals (metal oval plates) used in vending machines, automatic change machines, gaming machines and the like.

  In a slot machine that is installed and used in a game hall such as a pachinko parlor, a game is generally performed by inserting 1 to 3 medals from a medal slot. A medal passage is communicated with the medal slot, and a medal sorting device for sorting medals is provided in the medal passage. The medal sorting device determines the authenticity of medals inserted from the medal insertion slot, eliminates fake, and selects only genuine medals. The fake medal is removed from the medal sorting device and discharged to a medal tray provided outside the slot machine. A genuine medal is counted by a count sensor and then guided to a hopper device for paying out a medal when winning. Generally, the medal passage is bent in an approximately L shape, and the flow direction of the medal that has entered the medal passage changes from the first direction to the second direction. When the medal whose flow direction has changed to the second direction is detected by the count sensor, the number of inserted medals is counted.

  As a medal sorting device, in order to prevent unauthorized use, it is necessary to reliably sort counterfeit medals having different outer diameters and thicknesses, such as counterfeit medals and medals for other gaming machines. As a medal sorting technique, a mechanical sorting device and an electromagnetic or optical sorting device are known. As a mechanical sorting device, a pair of upper and lower side plates are provided to be separated from each other by a predetermined distance in the medal passage, and each medal is provided so as to lean against the lower side plate. A drop hole is provided in the side plate, and when a medal passes between the upper and lower side plates, a medal whose height from the bottom of the medal passage has a predetermined outer diameter is less than the outer diameter of the medal. It is depressed and excluded from the medal passage (Patent Document 1). In this sorting apparatus, since insertion of medals having an outer diameter larger than that of the genuine medal is restricted by the medal insertion slot, medals having an outer diameter smaller than that of the genuine medal are selected.

  As an electromagnetic sorting device, one magnetic sensor is provided for electromagnetic sorting, and the output waveform (impedance change) obtained from the magnetic sensor is detected to determine the material and diameter of the coin (patent) Reference 2). Moreover, it has several transmission side coils which each transmit the electric current which has a predetermined frequency in the position where the height from a floor differs, and several reception side coils provided in the position corresponding to this, and each reception side coil has An apparatus that determines a coin type (for example, a coin type of 500 yen and 1 rubles) based on each received data is also known (Patent Document 3).

  As an optical sorting device, a device for identifying the outer diameter of a coin from the timing of shielding a plurality of light receiving bodies is known (Patent Document 4). Also known is a coin sorting device that measures the thickness of a coin with a laser displacement sensor and compares the measured displacement waveform data with the waveform data of a normal coin recorded in advance to determine whether the coin is a deformed coin ( Patent Document 5).

By the way, in recent years, an act of counting medal counters by an illegal method may be performed. As one of the instruments used in this fraud (hereinafter referred to as “goto instrument”), for example, a plurality of LEDs are connected in series at the tip of a plate bent into a substantially L shape that can be inserted into a medal slot. And controlling the plurality of LEDs to blink at different timings. When this goto device is inserted from the medal insertion slot along the bending direction of the medal passage and the LED faces the count sensor, it is possible to erroneously detect that the medal has passed through the count sensor by blinking the LED. Accordingly, medals can be counted without actually inserting medals, and therefore, illegal profits can be obtained by actions such as drawing out credited medals or playing games.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-287311 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-166028 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-282519 Japanese Patent Publication No.53-28795 JP 10-49721 A

  However, in recent years, the number of fake medals with elaborate outer diameters and thicknesses is increasing, and it is desired for medal sorting devices to sort the outer diameters and thicknesses in real time. However, in conventional gaming machines, only the insertion of medals thicker than genuine medals at the medal insertion slot is regulated, and selecting the thickness of medals after the medal insertion slot is a low cost used for gaming machines, etc. The actual situation was not performed by the medal sorting device. Therefore, an apparatus described in Patent Document 5 is known as an apparatus for selecting the thickness of medals. However, this thickness sorter requires an expensive laser displacement sensor, a complicated circuit, and a memory for storing waveform data in advance, which increases the cost and is incorporated into a low-cost medal sorter. It is unsuitable.

  In addition, since there are medals whose outer diameters are slightly worn due to wear even among genuine medals, the apparatus for selecting the outer diameter has a predetermined allowable error range in the judgment standard of the genuine medals. . For this reason, it is not possible to select a fake medal having a diameter smaller than the diameter that enters the medal slot and larger than the genuine medal simply by selecting a small diameter medal smaller in diameter than the genuine medal after the medal slot. was there.

  In view of such circumstances, the present invention can select a fake medal by accurately selecting the thickness and outer diameter of the medal, and can reliably prevent an illegal act of increasing the medal counter. The device is to be provided at a low cost.

  In the medal sorting device of the present invention, a medal insertion slot into which medals having a first diameter or less and a first thickness or less are inserted; a first path through which medals inserted from the medal insertion slot flow; and the first path First selection means for excluding medals flowing down the first passage from medals having a diameter smaller than the first diameter and smaller than the second diameter, and passing medals having the diameter smaller than the first diameter and larger than the second diameter; A rolling support surface of the first passage for rolling and flowing down the medals that have passed through the first sorting means has an inlet through which a medal having a thickness less than a second thickness smaller than the first thickness flows; A second passage for branching and flowing down a medal flowing from the inlet from the first passage; and a third diameter that is smaller than the first diameter and larger than the second diameter among the medals flowing down the second passage. Medal from the second passage Remove, those having a second sorting means for passing the following medals in and third diameter second diameter or more, a.

  The selection of the outer diameter of the medals is sequentially performed at two places, the first and second sorting means. As the first sorting means, since the outer diameter of the medals is sorted before the second sorting means, the sorting accuracy is lowered. For this reason, the mechanical sorting means described in the prior art, or the electromagnetic or optical sorting means can be used.

  Finally, as the second sorting means for performing outer diameter sorting, it is necessary to perform sorting with higher accuracy than the first sorting means. For this reason, it is desirable to use sorting means using a magnetic sensor or an optical sensor. Therefore, a desirable configuration of the second selection means is that the second medal is a distance that does not detect a medal having a diameter not less than the second diameter and not more than the third diameter in the trajectory where the medal flows down the second passage. The first and second sensors that are shifted in the flow direction of the passage and output a detection signal when the passage of a medal is detected, and two detection signals output from the first and second sensors are monitored. It is preferable that the medals detected by the first and second sensors are distributed from the second passage to the outside when the two detection signals are obtained at the same time.

  According to the medal sorting device of the present invention, first, the outer diameter of the medal is roughly sorted by the first sorting means, and finally the outer diameter of the medal is finely sorted by the second sorting means. Since the thickness of the medal is selected at the entrance arranged between the two selecting means, the outer diameter and the thickness can be selected accurately. Further, since the genuine medal is allowed to flow down to the second passage branched from the first passage, it is possible to reliably prevent the tip of the goto tool from being inserted into the second passage.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a slot machine (rotating game machine) 10 which is an embodiment of a gaming machine using the present invention has a configuration in which a reel unit, electrical parts, and the like are incorporated in a housing 11. The housing 11 includes a front door 12 and a storage box 13. The front door 12 includes upper and lower doors 14 and 15, and the upper and lower doors 14 and 15 are attached to be freely opened and closed by hinges (not shown).

  A display window 17 is provided on the front surface of the upper door 14, and a part of the first to third reels 18 to 20 constituting a part of the reel unit is exposed in the back of the display window 17. . As is well known, a pattern including a plurality of types of winning patterns is arranged at a constant pitch on the outer circumference of the first to third reels 18 to 20, and three patterns per reel are observed through the display window 17. Can do.

  On the front face of the lower door 15, a medal slot 21 for inserting medals, a start lever 22, first to third stop buttons 23 to 25 for stopping the operation of each reel, a medal tray 26, and acquired medals A payout port 27 for paying out the medals to the medal tray 26 is provided.

  When a predetermined number of medals are inserted into the medal insertion slot 21 and the start lever 22 is operated, the first to third reels 18 to 20 are simultaneously rotated. Thereafter, the rotations of the first to third reels 18 to 20 are stopped by sequentially operating the first to third stop buttons 23 to 25. At this time, a payout is made when a predetermined pattern is arranged on any one of a total of five winning active lines, for example, three horizontal lines and two diagonal lines, which are formed by combining the patterns displayed on each reel one by one. The number of medals corresponding to the price is paid out from the mouth 27.

  In the slot machine 10, medals can be credited (stored) up to a predetermined number, for example, 50. That is, up to 50 medals are inserted into the medal insertion slot 21 at a time, and medals inserted beyond that are returned to the medal tray 26. A credit number display window 28 for displaying the number of medals currently stored is provided on the front surface of the upper door 14.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a medal sorting device 30 is attached to the inside of the lower door 15 so as to communicate with the medal slot 21. The genuine medals sorted by the medal sorting device 30 are stored in a tank 32 of a hopper device 31 provided at the lower part of the storage box 13. The hopper device 31 pays out medals stored in the tank 32 one by one to the payout port 27 at the time of payout such as when winning a prize. The fake medal selected as a fake by the medal sorting device 30 is returned from the medal sorting device 30 through the payout chute 33 to the medal tray 26 from the payout port 27.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the medal sorting device 30 includes a first passage 35, a first sorting means 36, a second passage 37, and a second sorting means 38. The first passage 35 is a form in which a medal passage having a rectangular cross section for rolling a medal on the circumferential surface is bent in a substantially L shape, that is, the medal flow direction of the medal that has entered the medal passage from the first direction to the first direction. It is the form which changes in the 2nd direction different from. The entrance of the first passage 35 is connected to the medal insertion slot 21. The medal insertion slot 21 regulates the insertion of a medal having an outer shape exceeding the first diameter D1 and the first thickness T1, and the first diameter D1. The insertion of medals having an outer shape equal to or smaller than the first thickness T1 is allowed.

  The first sorting means 36 is disposed in a passage of the first passage 35 that changes the flow direction to the second direction, and is a second smaller than the first diameter D1 of medals flowing down the first passage 35. A medal having a diameter less than the diameter D2 is excluded from the first passage, and a medal having a diameter not greater than the first diameter D1 and not less than the second diameter D2 is allowed to pass. That is, the allowable error range of the coin diameter M1 that is roughly sorted first is a range represented by the conditional expression “first diameter D1 ≧ M1 ≧ second diameter D2”. The medals to be excluded are guided to the medal tray 26 via the payout port 27.

  The second passage 37 is a medal passage that branches the medal in a third direction different from the second direction of the first passage 35. The medal passage is bent in a substantially L shape, that is, the flow of the entering medal The direction is changed from the third direction to a fourth direction different from the third direction. The inlet 39 of the second passage 37 is provided downstream of the first sorting means 36 in the flow direction of the first passage 35 and on the rolling support surface, that is, the bottom surface of the first passage 35. A vertically long opening is formed in a direction in which the longitudinal direction is aligned with the flow-down direction of the passage 35. The entrance 39 allows medals having a thickness equal to or smaller than the second thickness T2 that is smaller than the first thickness T1 among the medals that have passed through the first sorting means 36 to flow in, and the medals having a thickness exceeding the second thickness T2 as they are. Let it pass. The medals passing without flowing into the inlet 39 flow down in the first passage 35 in the second direction as they are, and are guided to the medal tray 26 through the payout port 27.

  In the second passage 37, a one-sheet take-out mechanism 40, a second sorting means 38, and a count sensor 41 are arranged in order from the upstream side in the flow-down direction. The single sheet take-out mechanism 40 includes, for example, an optical sensor, a stopper, and an actuator (not shown). The optical sensor detects a medal that has passed through the entrance 39 and outputs a detection signal. The stopper is disposed on the downstream side in the flow direction of the second passage 37 with respect to the optical sensor, and can enter and exit the second passage 37. In response to receiving the detection signal, the actuator moves the stopper in and out at predetermined time intervals, and separates medals continuously flowing in from the inlet 39 for a certain interval and flows down one by one. The single sheet take-out mechanism is not limited to being provided in the second passage 37, and if it is upstream from the second sorting means 38, it is arranged in any of the first passages 35 upstream from the inlet 39. Also good.

  The second sorting means 38 identifies the outer diameter of the medal from the timing of shielding the two optical sensors 43 and 44, and has a diameter that is less than the first diameter D1 and exceeds the third diameter D3 that is larger than the second diameter D2. The counterfeit medal that is held is excluded from the second passage 37 by operating a sorting mechanism 45 described in detail later, and a medal having a diameter not less than the second diameter D2 and not more than the third diameter D3 is passed as a genuine medal. That is, the diameter M2 of the medal selected as the genuine medal by the second selecting means 38 is in a range represented by the conditional expression “third diameter D3 ≧ M2 ≧ second diameter D2”. This range is an allowable error range for selection as the final genuine medal. The medals excluded by the second sorting means 38 are guided to the medal tray 26 through the payout port 27.

  The count sensor 41 detects a medal that has passed through the second sorting means 38 with an optical sensor, and outputs a count signal each time one medal is detected. This count signal is sent to a control circuit that controls the game of the slot machine 10 and is counted as a credit by the control circuit. The medals that have passed through the count sensor 41 are stored in the tank 32 of the hopper device 31.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the first sorting means 36 includes an inclined passage 48 in which a part of the first passage 35 is inclined and a drop hole 50 provided in the inclined passage 48. . The inclined passage 48 causes the medal to roll in the thickness direction. The drop hole 50 is provided by cutting out a part of the right wall 49 against which the medal leans. On the right wall 49, upper and lower edges 51 and 52 remain above and below the drop hole 50. The upper and lower edges 51 and 52 roll the medals while supporting the upper and lower sides of the front or back of the medals. The dimension along the inclined direction between the upper edge 51 and the bottom surface 53 of the inclined passage 48 is controlled to a length less than the second diameter D2. Thereby, a medal having a diameter equal to or larger than the second diameter D2 passes without being dropped into the drop hole 50, and as shown in FIG. 5B, a medal having a diameter smaller than the second diameter D2 is It falls out of the first passage 35 from the drop hole 50.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the second sorting unit 38 includes a first sensor 43, a second sensor 44, and a distribution mechanism 45. Although not shown, each of the first and second sensors 43 and 44 includes a transmissive optical sensor including a light source and a phototransistor. The second passage 37 has first and second light transmission holes for projecting light from the light source on the left and right walls, and first and second detection holes 54 and 55 for receiving light by a phototransistor. Are provided opposite to each other. The phototransistor outputs an “L” (Low) signal while receiving light from the light source incident from the detection holes 54 and 55, and “H” (High) when the light from the light source is shielded by a medal. Output a signal. The phototransistor of the first sensor 43 is disposed in the back of the first detection hole 54, and the phototransistor of the second sensor 44 is disposed in the back of the second detection hole 55. In addition, the code | symbol 56 shown in FIG. 5 is a blocker provided in the 2nd channel | path 37 so that entering / exiting freely, and protrudes in order to forcibly exclude a medal when credit is full.

  The second detection hole 55 is located downstream of the first detection hole 54 in the flow direction of the second passage 37, and the time when the first sensor 43 detects a genuine medal with respect to the first detection hole 54. They are separated in the flow-down direction by a distance that does not detect the same medal at the same time. Here, since the diameter M2 of the genuine medal is a range represented by the conditional expression “third diameter D3 ≧ M2 ≧ second diameter D2”, the distance is on the locus of the center of the flowing medal. Generally, the first and second detection holes 54 and 55 are provided apart by the length of the diameter M2.

  However, if the optical sensors are arranged on the center locus of the medal, the optical sensors are separated from each other by the length of the medal diameter M2, so that the distance between the detection holes 54 and 55 is increased, and the second sorting means. 38 will occupy a wide mounting range. For this reason, in this embodiment, the flow direction of the remaining four corner ranges (ranges indicated by hatting) 61 to 64 excluding the contour of the genuine coin from the range surrounding the medals with four tangents 57 to 60 in a square shape. The first detection hole 54 is provided in one of the two ranges 63 and 64 on the upstream side, and the second detection hole 55 is provided in either one of the two ranges 61 and 62 on the downstream side. It is provided in one range. If it carries out like this, the space | interval of the mutual detection holes 54 and 55 can be shortened, Therefore Space saving can be achieved in the attachment of an optical sensor. The detection holes 54 and 55 may be arranged at the same height from the bottom surface 65 or may be arranged so as to be shifted in the vertical direction. The four tangent lines 57 to 60 described above are the tangent line 57 in contact with the medal having the diameter M2 and the bottom surface 65 of the second passage 37, and the three tangent lines 58 to 60 that are horizontal and perpendicular to the tangent line 57. It consists of and.

  The distribution mechanism 45 includes a selection circuit 67, a driver 68, a solenoid 69, and a distribution plate 70, and constitutes a distribution unit of the present invention. Signals output from the first and second sensors 43 and 44 are individually input to the selection circuit 67, and the selection circuit 67 generates an error signal based on a combination of two signals obtained at the same time. The combination of signals that generate an error signal is a combination in which both the first and second sensors 43 and 44 become “H” signals at the same time. The sorting circuit 67 drives the solenoid 69 via the driver 68 when an error signal is generated.

  The distribution plate 70 is provided across the flow direction including the position where the first and second sensors 43 and 44 are disposed in the second passage 37. The second passage 37 in this range is an inclined passage 71 that tilts and rolls the medal in the thickness direction, and the right wall 76 on which the falling medal leans is a notch with a lower edge 72 cut out. A hole 73 is provided. The distribution plate 70 is arranged to be rotatable about an axis 74 parallel to the flow direction of the inclined passage 71, closes the upper part of the drop hole 73, and passes a genuine medal through cooperation with the lower edge 72. As shown in FIG. 7, rotation is performed between the distribution position and the second distribution position where the counterfeit medal is dropped from the drop hole 73 by rotating counterclockwise around the shaft 74 as shown in FIG. 7. The distribution plate 70 is normally biased toward the first distribution position by a spring 75 and is rotated to the second distribution position by driving the solenoid 69.

  When the credit of the slot machine 10 has reached a predetermined number, a full signal is input to the selection circuit 67. During the period when the full signal is received, the sorting circuit 67 drives the solenoid 69 described above to rotate the sorting plate 70 to the second sorting position, and drives the forcible discharge solenoid via a driver (not shown). Then, the blocker 56 is protruded to the protruding position, and the medal is forcibly dropped from the dropping hole 73. Note that such forcible ejection operation is not limited to the period during which the full signal is received, but the start lever 22 is pressed and the first to third reels 18 to 20 are rotating and the medals are being paid out. Also done during the period.

  Next, the operation of the above configuration will be briefly described. In the slot machine 10, a game is started after a medal is inserted into the medal slot 21. Only medals having an outer diameter of the first diameter D1 or less and the first thickness or less are inserted into the medal slot 21. The inserted medals flow down the first passage 35 and are guided to the first sorting means 36. The first sorting means 36 drops a medal having a diameter less than the second diameter D2 from the drop hole 50 as a fake medal, and passes a medal having a diameter not larger than the first diameter D1 and not smaller than the second diameter D2 as it is. The fake medal is returned to the medal tray 26.

  The medal that has passed through the first sorting means 36 passes through the entrance 39. At this time, a medal having a thickness equal to or smaller than the second thickness T <b> 2 flows into the inlet 39 and branches into the second passage 37. Then, medals having a diameter exceeding the second thickness T2 are allowed to pass as they are without entering the entrance 39. The passed medal is returned to the medal tray 26 as a fake medal.

  The medal branched to the second passage 37 flows down to the single take-out mechanism 40. The one-sheet take-out mechanism 40 separates consecutive medals at a predetermined interval and causes them to flow one by one. Thereafter, the medal flows down to the second sorting means 38. As shown in FIG. 8, the medal flowing down the second sorting means 38 passes through the first sensor 43 and the second sensor 44 in order during the time t1 to t5.

  At this time, when a genuine medal having a diameter less than the third diameter D3 and greater than or equal to the second diameter D2 passes, as shown in FIG. 9, since the coin has not yet reached at time t1, The “L” signal is simultaneously received from the second sensors 43 and 44, and the “H” signal is simultaneously received from the first sensor 43 and the “L” signal is simultaneously received from the second sensor 44 at the next time t2. At time t3, the "L" signal is received from the first and second sensors 43, 44, and then at time t4, the "L" signal is received from the first sensor 43 and the second sensor 44 is set to "H". Receive signals simultaneously. Then, at time t5 after passing, the “L” signal is simultaneously received from the first and second sensors 43 and 44.

  The selection circuit 67 monitors the combination of the two signals obtained from the first and second sensors 43 and 44 in time series, and at least the combination of the signals obtained at the times t2, t3, and t4 described above. By receiving in order, it is determined that it is a genuine medal. Thus, since the sorting circuit 67 does not drive the solenoid 69, the sorting plate 70 is maintained at the first sorting position by the bias of the spring 75. Therefore, the genuine medal passes through the second sorting means 38 as it is and is counted by the count sensor 41, and then stored in the tank 32 of the hopper device 31.

  On the other hand, when a fake medal having a diameter equal to or smaller than the first diameter D1 and exceeding the third diameter D3 passes, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the first and second sensors are not reached yet at time t1. The “L” signal is simultaneously received from the first sensor 43 and the “H” signal is simultaneously received from the first sensor 43 and the “L” signal is simultaneously received from the second sensor 44 at the time t2 when the first sensor 43 is reached. At time t3 when reaching the second sensor 44, since the diameter is slightly larger than the genuine medal, the "H" signal is simultaneously received from the first and second sensors 43 and 44, and then at time t4. The “L” signal from the first sensor 43 and the “H” signal from the second sensor 44 are simultaneously received. Then, at time t5 after the passage, the “L” signal is simultaneously received from the first and second sensors 43 and 44.

  The selection circuit 67 receives the “H” signals from both at the time t2, t3, t4 at least when the time series is received in that order, or at least at the time t3, that is, at the same time. If it is determined that the outer diameter of the fake medal is outside, an error signal is generated. Thereby, the sorting circuit 67 drives the solenoid 69 via the driver 68 when an error signal is generated. When the solenoid 69 is driven, the sorting plate 70 rotates from the first sorting position to the second sorting position about the shaft 74 against the bias of the spring 75. As a result, the fake medal is dropped from the drop hole 73 of the inclined passage 71 and returned to the medal tray 26.

  The count sensor 41 is disposed on the downstream side of the second passage 37 that branches from the first passage 35 via the inlet 39. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 12, even if the goto device 80 is inserted from the medal slot 21, the tip of the goto device 80 cannot be inserted into the entrance 39. For this reason, it is possible to reliably prevent an illegal act of pseudo-counting medal insertions.

  In the above embodiment, the blocker 56 and the sorting plate 70 are moved using separate solenoids, but instead, the sorting plate 70 and the blocker 56 are linked using a single solenoid. You may comprise so that it may move. In this case, when the solenoid is OFF, the distribution plate 70 is held at the first distribution position and the blocker 5 is held at the retracted position by the urging means such as a spring, and when the solenoid is turned on, the distribution plate 70 is second. The blocker 56 is configured to move in conjunction with the projecting position at the sorting position. On the contrary, when the solenoid is turned off, the sorting plate 70 may be moved to the second sorting position and the blocker 56 may be moved to the protruding position. Furthermore, the drive means for driving the sorting plate and the blocker 56 is not limited to the solenoid, and any known drive means can be used.

  In each of the above embodiments, the first sorting means 36 is the mechanical mechanism described with reference to FIG. 4. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any sorting mechanism using a known technique can be used. The mechanism may be adopted. Further, the second sorting means 38 is not limited to the configuration described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, and for example, a configuration using a reflection type optical sensor, an optical sensor such as a laser beam, or a magnetic sensor such as an electromagnetic sensor may be adopted. .

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the count sensor 41 is provided separately from the second sorting means 38, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the second sorting means 38 may have the function of a count sensor. In this case, a count signal may be generated using signals obtained from the first and second sensors 43 and 44, for example.

  Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the medal sorting device 30 is employed in the slot machine 10, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be used in other gaming machines, and coins (currencies). The present invention can also be applied to vending machines, automatic change machines, and the like.

It is a perspective view showing the appearance of the slot machine adopting the present invention. It is a perspective view showing the slot machine in a state where the lower door is opened. It is explanatory drawing which shows a medal selection apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline of a 1st selection means, (A) has shown the state in which a genuine medal passes, (B) has each shown the state in which a fake medal falls. It is explanatory drawing which shows the position of the detection hole of a 1st and 2nd sensor. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline of a 2nd selection means, and has shown the state which the distribution board rotated to the permissible position. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline of a 2nd selection means, and has shown the state which the distribution board rotated to the control position. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state in which a genuine medal passes the 1st and 2nd sensor. It is explanatory drawing which shows in time series the combination of the detection signal obtained from a 1st and 2nd sensor when a genuine medal passes. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state in which a fake medal passes the 1st and 2nd sensor. It is explanatory drawing which shows the combination of the detection signal obtained from a 1st and 2nd sensor when a fake medal passes in time series. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which inserted the goto instrument from the medal insertion slot.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Slot machine 21 Medal slot 35 1st channel | path 36 1st selection means 37 2nd channel | path 38 2nd selection means 39 Inlet 41 Count sensor 43 1st sensor 44 2nd sensor

Claims (2)

A medal slot into which medals having a diameter equal to or smaller than the first diameter and a thickness equal to or smaller than the first thickness are inserted;
A first passage through which medals inserted from the medal insertion slot flow down;
The medals flowing down the first passage are excluded from the first passage and medals smaller than the first diameter and less than the first diameter are allowed to pass through medals that are smaller than the first diameter and larger than the second diameter. Sorting means;
A rolling support surface of the first passage for rolling and flowing down the medals that have passed through the first sorting means has an inlet through which a medal having a thickness less than a second thickness smaller than the first thickness flows; A second passage for allowing the medal flowing from the entrance to branch off from the first passage and flow down;
Of the medals flowing down the second passage, medals having a diameter not greater than the first diameter and exceeding a third diameter larger than the second diameter are excluded from the second passage, and medals having a diameter not less than the second diameter and not greater than the third diameter are excluded. A medal sorting device, comprising: a second sorting means for allowing the to pass through. The second sorting means moves in the direction of flow of the second passage by a distance that does not detect a medal having a diameter not less than the second diameter and not more than the third diameter in the trajectory where the medal flows down the second passage. The first and second sensors that are arranged in a shifted manner and output a detection signal when the passage of a medal is detected, and two detection signals output from the first and second sensors are monitored, and the two 2. The medal according to claim 1, further comprising a distribution unit that distributes the medal detected by the first and second sensors to the outside from the second passage when the detection signal is obtained at the same time. Sorting device.

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