JP2006252398A - Coin equipment and sensor used for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent detecting as passage of true coins, due to the intrusion of a false signal body. <P>SOLUTION: A coin passage 11 is provided with a sensor 40 for optically detecting the thrown-in and passing coin 54 in a detecting optical path 201 with a non-contact distance X, and a guard part 202 for guarding the sensor 40 from the false signal body 200, outside the detecting optical path 201 between the coin passage 11 and a sensor surface 40a so that the false signal body 200, intruding into the coin passage 11 will not reach the predetermined position in front of the sensor surface 40a and to give the sensor 40 a signal that replaces the passing coin 54. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a coin device that receives coins, and more specifically, to a coin path into which coins are inserted, a sensor that detects coins that have been inserted and passed, and a coin that uses the output of this sensor to manage coins and operating devices The present invention relates to a device and a sensor used therefor.

  This type of coin device is known as a coin selector or a medal selector (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2), and a coin sorting device for sorting coins, substitute coins (tokens), and coins for play is also known. (Patent Documents 3 and 4). Furthermore, it is also known as a coin identification device (Patent Documents 5 and 6). These are used for various operating devices that operate by inserting coins, such as gaming machines and vending machines, and constitute a part of the mechanism. In any case, depending on the coins and coins that are inserted and passed, the presence / absence, type, and authenticity of the coins, it is necessary to take measures such as accepting, counting, storing, normal operation, discharging / warning, and non-operation.

Among these, Patent Documents 1 and 2 make it possible to reliably prevent unauthorized use and fraudulent actions such as coin game machines and vending machines.
JP-A-6-36116 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-333941 JP 2001-155206 A JP 2001-155223 A JP 2003-296788 A JP 2005-31901 A

  By the way, the thing of patent document 1 is the 1st sensor for coin detection provided in the middle of a coin passage, and the 2nd sensor for coin detection provided between a discharge mouth and a coin store. It is possible to detect the inserted coin and the falling coin to the coin reservoir, so that it is possible to prevent unauthorized removal after detecting the inserted coin, and when a thin plate or the like is inserted, there is now one sensor. In order to detect foreign matter mechanically, it can be reliably detected even if it is transparent. However, in the case of a pseudo signal body that continuously gives an intermittent signal in place of the coin through which the foreign substance passes to other sensors, it is confused with the foreign substance signal. Moreover, the fraud continues until it is determined that it is fraudulent and it can be dealt with. In addition, it is not possible to prevent similar frauds from being repeated.

  In addition, the one described in Patent Document 2 is a coin selector as described in Patent Documents 3 and 4, that is, two sensors in the coin passing direction at a position where it is difficult to reach illegally near the outlet of the bent coin passage. A coin selector that can accurately detect the passage of coins and detect backflow etc. from two pulse signals with a time difference that detect coins passing through these sensors. A technique for dealing with fraud when repeatedly inserting and passing through two sensor positions and then removing and returning the two sensor positions with an interval in both the coin passing direction and the vertical direction. Disclosure. However, since this sensor is in a fixed position, it cannot cope with a pseudo signal body that gives a signal instead of a passing coin to the sensor, and the credit in a gaming machine such as a slot machine is illegally unlimited. Accumulated.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a coin device that receives a signal instead of a passing coin due to an intrusion of a pseudo signal body and does not detect the passing of a genuine coin and a sensor used therefor.

  In order to achieve the above-described problems, the coin device of the present invention includes a sensor that optically detects a coin inserted and passed through a detection optical path at a non-contact distance in a coin path into which the coin is inserted. In the coin device that provides the output of this sensor for the management of coins and operating devices, so that the pseudo signal body that enters the coin passage reaches a predetermined position in front of the sensor surface, and does not give a signal instead of the passing coin to the sensor, One feature is that a guard portion is provided to guard the sensor from the pseudo signal body outside the detection optical path between the coin passage and the sensor surface. However, it is also effective for a stopped coin.

  In such a configuration, the guard portion is outside the detection optical path between the coin path and the sensor surface of the sensor that optically detects the coin inserted into the coin path and passing through the detection optical path at a non-contact distance. It is located so that neither the coin passage nor the detection optical path is blocked, and of course, it does not protrude, so it does not interfere with the passage of coins and detection by the sensor, and the pseudo signal body to the sensor part of the coin passage Even if an intruder enters, it does not reach the predetermined position in front of the sensor that gives the sensor a signal in place of the coin that passes through it. It is possible to prevent the signal from being affected.

  The coin device of the present invention further includes a sensor that optically detects a coin inserted and passed through a detection optical path at a non-contact distance in a coin path into which the coin is inserted, and outputs the sensor from the coin or the coin. In the coin device used for the management of the operating device, the detection between the coin passage and the sensor surface so that the pseudo signal body entering the coin passage does not reach a predetermined position in front of the sensor that gives the sensor a signal instead of the passing coin. Another feature is that a guard part is provided outside the optical path to guard the sensor from the pseudo signal body.

  In such a configuration, the guard portion is outside the detection optical path between the coin path and the sensor surface of the sensor that optically detects the coin inserted into the coin path and passing through the detection optical path at a non-contact distance. Since it is located, neither the coin path nor the detection light path is obstructed or projected, so it does not interfere with the passage of coins and detection by the sensor, and the position of the pseudo signal body is the coin. Even if it enters the sensor section of the passage, it is a position that does not reach the predetermined position that gives the sensor a signal instead of the coin that passes through it, that is, a position that disturbs, so the coin that guards and passes the sensor from the pseudo signal body It is possible to avoid the influence of the pseudo signal instead of.

The detection optical path is a reflection optical path, and the predetermined position is a position where the signal handling part of the pseudo signal body faces the light projecting part and the light receiving part of the sensor surface, specifically, a contact position.
Since the detection optical path of the sensor is a reflection optical path, the non-contact distance between the sensor surface and the coin passing through the coin path is specified, whereas the pseudo signal body is detected by the sensor as being at the same non-contact distance. Therefore, even if a signal in place of the coin passing through the sensor can be given, these signals are superimposed on the output of the sensor, so that the false pseudo signal does not live. When the pseudo signal body is located within the non-contact distance, the pseudo signal body can give the sensor a signal instead of the passing coin without being detected by the sensor. However, disturbance light is generated and superimposed on the sensor output, so there is a lack of certainty. In addition, if the distance is greater than the non-contact distance, there is a problem of light collection, and the brightness of the signal is inversely proportional to the square of the distance, so it is difficult to give a signal instead of the coin passing through the sensor. Therefore, it is best that the reflection type sensor works in a contact state in which the pseudo signal body faces the light projecting portion and the light receiving portion of the sensor surface so that the signal handling portion faces each other. It can only respond by making a signal instead of absorbing and blocking and making it receive a signal instead of passing coins, or by periodically blocking by the internal shutter function to receive light from the sensor and return it to the sensor. It will be.

  In order to specifically deal with this, the guard unit shifts the pseudo signal body that has entered the predetermined position in front of the sensor surface to a position in front of the sensor surface or in the surface direction of the sensor surface. You just have to catch it in the position you did.

  Here, the predetermined position in front of the sensor includes not entering the position facing the sensor surface and not approaching the sensor surface until it touches the sensor surface. Even if the signal body can give a signal in place of the coin passing through the sensor, it can be considered as an error, and in the posture where the pseudo signal body is inclined with respect to the sensor surface, it is further substituted for the coin through which the pseudo signal body passes. Even if a signal is received and delivered to the sensor side, the transmission direction is slanted and does not reach the light receiving part of the sensor. In addition, the displacement of the sensor surface in the surface direction is received at a position where the signal handling unit is displaced from the position facing the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit of the sensor regardless of whether the pseudo signal body is in contact with the sensor surface or not. This means that the light on the sensor side is not subject to light reception processing, but it can be used as ambient light, and of course it cannot be returned to the sensor side, and the pseudo signal body passes through. Even if a signal in place of the coin to be issued is output, it cannot be received by the sensor, so both can be errors.

  The above-described guard part can be provided in the sensor itself, and optically detects a coin that is inserted and passed through a reflective detection optical path at a non-contact distance in the coin path in which the coin is inserted. A guard portion that guards from the pseudo signal body within the non-contact distance outside the detection optical path so that the pseudo signal body is not located at a predetermined position in front of the sensor surface and gives a signal in place of the passing coin. The non-contact distance outside the detection light path on the sensor surface so that the sensor or the pseudo signal body provided on the surface does not reach a predetermined position in front of the sensor that gives the sensor a signal instead of the passing coin. The above-mentioned pseudo signal body can be dealt with by using a sensor characterized by providing a guard section that guards against the pseudo signal body within the range below.

  In the unlikely event that an error cannot be detected due to ambient light when the pseudo signal body is prevented from reaching the predetermined position in front of the sensor surface, the sensor section is entered midway between the coin passage insertion port and the sensor. If a sensor that mechanically detects the pseudo signal body is provided and combined with the detection that foreign matter continues to exist, there is no detection of the passage of coins and an error is caused by continuing to detect foreign matter in the coin path. be able to.

  Further objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and drawings. Each feature of the present invention can be used alone or in combination in various combinations as much as possible.

  According to the coin device and sensor of the present invention, the passage of coins and the detection by the sensor are not obstructed, and even if the pseudo signal body enters the sensor part of the coin path, the sensor is guarded from the pseudo signal body and has an influence. It can be made not to receive.

  A coin device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the coin device according to the present embodiment is an example of the coin selector 1 disclosed in Patent Documents 3 and 4. For example, as shown in FIGS. It is used for a gaming machine such as the slot machine 100 described in Patent Document 2. However, the present invention is not limited to such a coin selector, and includes a sensor for detecting coins inserted and passed in a coin path into which coins are inserted, and the output of this sensor is used to manage coins and operating devices. The present invention can be applied to coin devices provided for use in general and sensors used for the same.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the slot machine 100 includes a slot machine main body 120 and a front door 130 attached to one side of the front surface of the slot machine main body 120 by a hinge or the like so as to be opened and closed. As shown in FIG. 10, a game display unit 131 is provided substantially in the center on the front surface of the front door 130, and a coin insertion slot 132 for a player to insert coins is provided at the lower right corner of the game display unit 131. Provided on the further right side of the coin insertion slot 132 is a reject button 133 for forcibly ejecting a coin that has been inserted from the coin insertion slot 132 and jammed out of the slot machine 100.

  A start button 134 for starting the game is provided at the lower left of the game display unit 131, and a coin payout opening 135 is provided at the center of the lower end of the front door 130. As shown in FIG. 11, the slot machine main body 120 is fixed to the inner bottom surface, stores a plurality of coins therein, and stores the stored coins in a payout opening 135 provided on the front surface of the front door 130. A hopper device 121 is provided for paying out each one. A hopper tank 122 that opens upward and stores a plurality of coins is provided at the top of the hopper device 121.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the coin selector 1 is attached to the back side of the coin insertion slot 132 provided on the front surface of the front door 130 on the back surface of the front door 130. The coin selector 1 rolls the coin toward the hopper device 121 while detecting the passage of the coin inserted from the coin insertion slot 132, and a coin of different diameter, iron or iron having an outer diameter different from the predetermined dimension. In addition to sorting out and rejecting illegal coins made of an alloy, it sorts out and eliminates a predetermined number or more of coins that can be inserted per game.

  As shown in FIG. 11, a lead-out path 136 that covers the lower side of the coin selector 1 and communicates with the payout port 135 of the front door 130 is provided below the coin selector 1. Coins distributed by the coin selector 1 are returned to the player from the payout slot 135 via the lead-out path 136.

  A player who wants to enjoy a game with a slot machine can first borrow a coin as a game medium from a coin lending machine (not shown) and insert the coin directly into the coin insertion slot 132 of the coin insertion device. A square window-like display window facing the player side is formed at the center and upper part of the casing of the slot machine. In the center of the central display window, a symbol display window through which the symbols of the three rotating reels can be seen is formed. The start button 134 is a lever located obliquely below the rotating reel, and starts driving the reel unit on condition that a game coin is inserted. The reel unit is stopped from being driven by a stop switch. The reel unit is composed of three rotating reels. Each rotating reel includes a rotating drum made of a synthetic resin and a tape-like reel tape attached around the rotating drum.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the coin selector 1 includes a rectangular main plate 2 formed of a synthetic resin such as plastic, and stainless steel or the like that covers the upper half of the surface of the main plate 2 so that it can be opened and closed. And a gate plate 3 formed of a metal plate. Between the front surface of the main plate 2 and the back surface of the gate plate 3, a first coin passage 10 having an upper end communicating with the coin insertion slot 132 and a lower end extending downward, and the first coin passage 10 A second coin passage 11 is formed, which communicates with the lower end of the first coin passage and extends linearly toward the lower right of the drawing. The gate plate 3 is rotatably supported with respect to the main plate 2 via a shaft 5 disposed on the right side thereof, and the gate plate 3 is normally closed by a biasing force of a coil spring 6 wound around the shaft 5. However, the gate plate 3 can be opened to the surface side against the coil spring 6 for releasing clogging or maintenance of the coin 54.

  At the lower end of the gate plate 3, there is formed a single inclined transfer rail 3a made of a linear flange bent along the second coin passage 11 as shown in FIGS. Yes. The second coin passage 11 is provided with coin sorting means 12 for sorting coins 54 transferred in the second coin passage 11 according to the difference in outer diameter. This coin sorting means 12 is formed on the gate plate 3 and has a notch 3c formed slightly shorter than the outer diameter of the genuine coin 54 to which the height from the inclined transfer rail 3a to the upper edge 3b is transferred. The side wall in which the notch 3c is formed is provided with an inclined wall 3d inclined outward with respect to the coin traveling direction, and the coin 54 falling from the coin insertion slot 132 is notched at the lower end of the first coin passage 10. In cooperation with the coin pressing means 13 that always presses against the inclined wall 3d side of 3c with the coin pressing means 13 along the inclined wall 3d, illegal coins having a diameter smaller than the genuine coin 54 are removed from the inclined transfer rail 3a and played. To return to the person. Further, on the surface of the main plate 2 located upstream of the coin pressing means 13, a plate thickness regulating means 15 for regulating the thickness of the coin 54 falling from the coin insertion slot 132 by the protrusion of the thickness screw is provided. The above illegal coins are not accepted.

  On the other hand, in the middle of the second coin passage 11, coins that are forcibly excluded from the second coin passage 11 are selected through the coin sorting means 12 and pass through the second coin passage 11. Forced exclusion means 20 is provided. The coin forcibly removing means 20 is supported on the main plate 2 so as to be rotatable around a shaft 22 and is urged by a spring so as to be always located at a coin removing position, and the coin removing lever 23 is composed of a solenoid 25 that retracts from the inside of the second coin passage 11 based on a drive signal of a control device (not shown), while the slot machine 100 does not reach the upper and lower positions where the coins 54 inserted by the player are accumulated as credits. Is kept in the retracted position, but when the upper limit is reached, the solenoid 25 is turned off to return the coin removal lever 23 to the removal position, and the coins 54 to be inserted thereafter are forcibly removed and returned to the player. I am doing so. A coin guide lever 30 is attached to and interlocked with the coin exclusion lever 23 so that when the coin exclusion lever 23 is at the retracted position, the coin guide lever 30 prevents the coin 54 from falling at the position of the forced coin exclusion means 20. invite.

  Further, the first coin passage 10 is provided with a coin fall speed relaxation means 60 that abuts on the coin 54 inserted from the coin insertion slot 132 and relaxes the fall speed of the coin 54, and is provided on the surface of the gate plate 3. The swing lever 62 is movably supported, and a spring 63 that constantly biases the swing lever 62 clockwise.

  Further, on the discharge port 11a side of the second coin passage 11, a reflective coin detection sensor 40 made of a photocoupler including a light projecting element 20a and a light receiving element 20b is adjacent to the coin 54 in the passing direction. Thus, the number of coins 54 provided as a pair and passing through the second coin passage 11 to the discharge port 11a is detected.

Due to the configuration of the coin selector 1, the genuine coin 54 reaches and passes through the position of the sensor 40. In addition, since the coins 54 that pass through are stocked in the slot machine 100 with an upper limit of about 50 in the credit system, a player who wants to play over time may continuously insert a large number of coins 54. In this case, the coin 54 continuously passes the position of the sensor 40 as shown in FIG. To count the number of consecutive coins 54, the sensor 40 detects the coin 54 at a position greatly off the diameter line of the passing coin 54, so that the interval between the passing coins 54 as disclosed in Patent Document 2 is disclosed. It is possible to detect with an output having a pulse waveform using the gap, and the number of pulses is equal to the number of coins. Further, since the coin detection timings of the two adjacent sensors 40 are misaligned, a specific phase difference occurs between the pulses of the respective detection outputs. As a result, it is possible to count and credit the correct number of coins 54 regardless of whether the coins 54 are continuously inserted or intermittently inserted.

  However, as described above, in the case where there is an intrusion of the pseudo signal body 200 as shown by the phantom line in FIGS. 4 and 5 which continues to give the intermittent signal in place of the passing coin 54 to the sensor 40, this is ineffective. No measures are yet to be made, and it is only determined that there has been a pseudo-insertion operation by detecting an intruding foreign object, or by comparing the relationship between the number of coins in a credit and the number of coins to be paid out with the game situation in between. , Until you realize it and respond to it.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the coin 54 inserted and passed through the first and second coin passages 10 and 11 into which the coin 54 is inserted is detected by the detection optical path 201 with the non-contact distance X shown in FIG. In the coin selector 1 which is a coin device which provides the sensor 40 for optical detection as described above, and the output of the sensor 40 is used for management of the coin 54, the slot machine 100 which is an operation device, and the like, the first and second The sensor 40 is arranged so that the pseudo signal body 200 entering the coin passages 10 and 11 reaches a predetermined position in front of the sensor surface 40a and does not give the sensor 40 a signal instead of the passing coin 54, for example, the pulse signal described above. Are guarded from the pseudo signal body 200 outside the detection optical path 201 between the first and second coin passages 10, 11, specifically, the second coin passage 11 and the sensor surface 40a. The guard portion 202 is provided that. Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the guard unit 02 optically detects the second coin path 11 and the coin 54 inserted and passed through the detection optical path 201 with the non-contact distance X placed therebetween. As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the sensor surface 40a is positioned outside the detection optical path 201, and of course, neither the second coin path 11 nor the detection optical path 201 is blocked. Since it does not protrude, it does not interfere with the passage of the coin 54 and detection by the sensor 40, and even if the pseudo signal body 200 enters the sensor 40 portion of the second coin passage 11, it passes through the coin. The sensor 40 is supplied from the pseudo signal body 200 without reaching the predetermined position as shown in FIG. 12A and FIG. Guard through It is possible to avoid the influence of the pseudo signal in place of the coin 54.

  In other words, in the coin selector 1, the pseudo signal body 200 that enters the first and second coin passages 10 and 11 does not reach a predetermined position in front of the sensor 40 that gives the sensor 40 a pulse signal instead of the passing coin 54. Further, a guard portion 202 that guards the sensor 40 from the pseudo signal body 200 is provided outside the detection optical path 201 between the second coin passage 11 and the sensor surface 40a. The part 202 does not block the second coin passage 11 and the detection optical path 201, and does not protrude, so that the passage of the coin 54 and detection by the sensor 40 are not disturbed, and the position is Even if the pseudo signal body 200 enters the sensor 40 portion of the second coin passage 11, a pulse signal in place of the coin 54 through which the pseudo signal body 200 passes is given to the sensor 40. 12 (a) and 13 (a), the position does not reach the predetermined position shown by the phantom line, that is, the position where it interferes with the sensor 40. It is possible to avoid the influence of the substitute pseudo signal.

  As a result, even if the pseudo signal body 200 enters the sensor 40 portion of the second coin passage 11 without interfering with the passage of the coin 54 and the detection by the sensor 40, the sensor 40 is specified from the pseudo signal body 200. Specifically, the signal operation from the pseudo signal body 200 can be guarded so as not to be affected.

  Here, the detection light path 201 is a reflection light path as shown in FIG. 3, and the predetermined position is a light projecting element 20a which is a light projecting portion of the sensor surface 40a as shown in FIGS. 12 (a) and 13 (a). As shown in FIG. 12B, the four signal handling portions 200a of the pseudo signal body 200 are in contact with each other in pairs with the light receiving element 20b which is a light receiving portion. The pseudo signal body 200 currently used to satisfy the above has a plate shape curved on the surface as shown in FIG. 4 when viewed from the front, and the first coin passage 10, When the second coin path 11 is entered and the upper end portion 200b is positioned at the coin insertion slot 132, the tip end portion 200c forming the pseudo signal action surface on which the signal handling portions 200a at the tip end portion are arranged is formed on the sensor surface 40a. I try to get to the front. Further, the front end portion 200c forms a narrow width portion that matches the width of the sensor surface 40a of the sensor 40, and the wide end body portion 200d that enters the first and second coin passages 10 and 11 on the upper end portion 200b side. There is a curved portion 200e that is greatly curved from the second coin passage 11 portion to the sensor 40 side, and the distal end portion 200c is bent obliquely toward the sensor 40 side from the curved portion 200e toward the distal end. The curved shape and the bent shape are memorized and can be restored to this state at any time.

  Accordingly, when the pseudo signal body 200 is inserted from the coin insertion slot 132, the pseudo signal body 200 enters the narrow first and second coin passages 10 and 11 while the curved shape and the bent shape are extended, and the front end portion 200c. 13 moves over the guard wall 211 in FIG. 13 at the position immediately before entering the sensor 40 part, and approaches the sensor surface 40a of the sensor 40 from the tip side by the restoring force to the bent shape, and then landed and moved forward. When the rear end of the tip portion 200c comes off from the guard wall 211 while sliding, it is dropped into the sensor surface 40a at once by the restoring force to the bent shape, and FIG. FIG. 13A shows a crimped state indicated by a virtual line. As a result, the pseudo signal body 200 is positioned at a predetermined position with respect to the sensor 40 with almost no failure.

  However, since the detection light path 201 of the sensor 40 is a reflection light path, the non-contact distance X between the sensor surface 40a and the coin 54 passing through the second coin path 11 is specified. Are detected by the sensor 40 when they are at the same non-contact distance X, and even if a pulse signal in place of the coin 54 passing through the sensor 40 can be given, those signals are superimposed on the output of the sensor 40. The pseudo-signal becomes a non-living relationship. Further, when the pseudo signal body 200 is located within the non-contact distance X, the pseudo signal body 200 is given a pulse signal in place of the coin 54 passing without being detected by the sensor 40, but is separated from the sensor surface 40a. Under these conditions, disturbance light is generated no matter how dark the surroundings are, and the relationship is superimposed on the output of the sensor 40, so there is no certainty, and even in this case, the false signal does not live. Moreover, since the brightness of the signal is inversely proportional to the square of the distance because the distance is larger than the non-contact distance X, the signal brightness is inversely proportional to the square of the distance. become. Therefore, it is best that the reflection type sensor 40 operates in a contact state where the signal handling unit 200a faces the light projecting element 20a and the light receiving element 20b of the sensor surface 40a. An internal shutter function that absorbs and blocks the light projection on the sensor 40 side and generates and receives a pulse signal instead of the coin 54 that passes through, or receives the light projection on the sensor 40 side and returns it to the sensor 40 to receive light. The only thing you can do is to shut it down regularly.

  In order to specifically deal with the use of the pseudo signal body 200 that requires such a specific function, the guard unit 202 is configured to detect the pseudo signal body 200 entering the predetermined position in front of the sensor surface 40a. It may be received at a position shifted in front of the predetermined position in front of the sensor 40 or in the surface direction of the sensor surface 40a. Here, the front position of the sensor includes not entering the position facing the sensor surface 40a and not approaching the pseudo signal body 200 until contacting the sensor surface 40a as indicated by a virtual line in FIG. Thus, even if at least the light emitted from the sensor 40 becomes disturbance light, and the pseudo signal body 200 can give a signal in place of the coin 54 passing through the sensor 40, an error can be generated. As shown by the line, at the near position where the pseudo signal body 200 is inclined with respect to the sensor surface 40a, a pulse signal in place of the coin 54 through which the pseudo signal body 200 passes is output to the sensor 40 side. Even if it reaches the sensor 40, the transmission direction is inclined and does not reach the light receiving element 20b of the sensor 40, so that an error can be caused. In addition, the positional deviation as indicated by the phantom line in FIG. 6 in the surface direction of the sensor surface 40a causes the signal handling unit 200a to throw the sensor 40 regardless of whether the pseudo signal body 200 is in contact with the sensor surface 40a or not. It means that the light is received at a position shifted from the position facing the optical element 20a and the light receiving element 20b, and the light projection on the sensor 40 side is not subjected to the light receiving process and is caused to be disturbance light. It is impossible to return the light to the side, and even if the pseudo signal body 200 outputs a pulse signal in place of the coin 54 through which it passes, it cannot be received by the sensor 40, so both are regarded as errors. be able to.

  The example shown in FIG. 1 will be described in detail. In the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the guard portion 202 has a bar member 212 placed horizontally at the lower portion of the sensor surface 40 and fixed by bonding or the like. The lower side of the tip portion 200c of the pseudo signal body 200 abuts in front of the sensor surface 40a as shown by the phantom lines in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, and the tip portion 200c slides on the guard portion 202 while guarding the guard wall. Even at a position completely over 211, the sensor surface 40a is not brought closer to the front surface of the guard portion 202, and the upper side portion of the tip portion 200c is brought closer to the sensor surface 40a due to the spring property of the bent shape portion and the curved shape portion. However, since it inclines as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 5, it becomes an error regardless of whether it cannot contact as shown by the phantom line. In addition, the pseudo signal body 200 is a portion beyond the guard wall 211, and the tip portion 200c is flattened by receiving the same pressure from the front and back as in the second coin passage 11, and shows the extension to the tip side to handle the signal. An error also occurs when the portion 200a is not at a predetermined position where it can correctly face the light projecting element 20a and the light receiving element 20b of the sensor 40.

The bar member 212 is formed as an L-shaped side as shown in FIG. 7 and is inserted into the lower position of the sensor surface 40a from the upstream side in the coin passing direction, and the other side 212a is formed in a portion continuous with the guard wall 211. The sensor support wall 213 is inserted between the lower side 212b and the lower side 212b by inserting it into the lower position of the sensor surface 40a from the upstream side in the coin passing direction as the upper side of the U-shape on the vertical surface. Or by inserting it into the lower position of the sensor surface 40a from the downstream side in the coin passing direction as a U-shaped front side on a horizontal plane, and sandwiching the front and rear of the sensor 40 between the rear side 212c and fixing. Or you may. In this case, it is advantageous to fix by providing a protrusion 212d that engages with the recesses on the front and rear surfaces of the sensor 40. Further, the bar member 212 having the fixing portion 212e that is fitted and fixed in the gap 314 formed between the two sensors 40 may be arranged and fixed at the lower position of the sensor surface 40.
As described above, it is convenient that the bar selector 212 can be easily retrofitted without changing the coin selector 1 itself.

  Here, a typical pattern that the guard portion 202 can take on the sensor surface 40a in order to prevent the tip portion 200c of the pseudo signal body 200 from being in a predetermined position with respect to the sensor surface 40a is shown in the upper side of FIG. A bar member 212, a longitudinal bar member 212 disposed in the center of the two sensors 40 in FIG. 8B, or disposed upstream or downstream in the coin passing direction (not shown), as shown in FIG. Two light projecting elements 20a of the two sensors 40, a cross member 214 arranged so as to be positioned at the boundary between the light receiving elements 20b, and two light projects of the two sensors 40 as shown in FIG. A frame-shaped member 215 that encloses the element 20a and the light-receiving element 20b, and an eyeglass-shaped frame member 216 that individually surrounds a pair of the light projecting element 20a and the light receiving element 20b of the two sensors 40 as shown in FIG. FIG. f) There are a grid frame member 217 and the like that individually surround each of the light projecting element 20a and the light receiving element 20b of the two sensors 40, as shown in FIG. It can be separated from the surface 40a, and in either case, an error can occur. In addition, depending on the position of the vertically oriented bar member 212 in FIG. 8B or the manner in which the tip portion 200c enters, the tip portion 200c moves downstream in the coin passing direction while contacting the tip with the sensor surface 40a. It is also possible to induce an error by contacting the sensor 40 in front of a predetermined position and causing the sensor 40 to be displaced in the coin passing direction without further intrusion.

  The guard portions 202 of these patterns are fixed to the sensor surface 40a itself of the sensor 40 or integrally formed, and one or more protrusions 218 as shown in FIG. 9 are provided on the sensor surface 40a of the sensor 40. It can also be used as a guard part. Such a protrusion 218 can also exhibit a function of shifting the receiving position of the tip portion 200c in front of the coin passing direction at a predetermined position. In addition, the sensor 40 itself has an advantage that the guard against the pseudo signal body 200 can be completed.

  According to the coin device and the sensor of the present invention, it can be practically used for a coin gaming machine and the like so that it does not interfere with the passage and detection of coins, and can be guarded against working even if a pseudo signal body enters.

It is a front view of a coin selector showing an embodiment of the invention. It is a front view which shows the coin continuous passage state of the coin selector of FIG. FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the coin selector of FIG. 1 as viewed from the coin outlet side. It is explanatory drawing which looked at the gate plate when the pseudo signal body entered the coin selector of FIG. FIG. 5 is a partial side view of the coin selector in the state of FIG. 4 as viewed from the coin discharge port side. It is a top view of the coin channel | path part of FIG. It is a top view of a coin passage part showing some other examples of a guard part in an embodiment of the invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other form of a guard part. It is a perspective view of the sensor with a guard part. It is a front view which shows the general slot machine with which the coin selector of this Embodiment is equipped. FIG. 11 is an internal structural view of the slot machine of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which looked at the coin channel | path which shows the relationship between the conventional coin selector and a pseudo signal body from the coin discharge port side, and the front view of the front-end | tip part of a pseudo signal body. It is a top view of the coin passage part of the coin selector of Drawing 12, and a top view of the tip part of a pseudo signal object.

Explanation of symbols

X Non-contact distance 1 Coin selector 10 First coin path 11 Second coin path 20a Light emitting element 20b Light receiving element 40 Sensor 40a Sensor surface 54 Coin 100 Slot machine 132 Coin slot 200 Pseudo signal body 200a Signal handling unit 200b Upper end Portion 200c tip portion 200d body portion 200e bending portion 201 detection optical path 202 guard portion 212 bar member 214 cross member 215 frame type member 216 glasses type frame member 217 grid type frame member 218 projection

Claims (6)

In a coin device in which a coin passage into which a coin is inserted is optically detected by a detection optical path with a non-contact distance between the inserted and passed coins, and the output of this sensor is used for managing coins and operating devices ,
The pseudo signal body that enters the coin passage reaches a predetermined position in front of the sensor surface, and the sensor is placed outside the detection light path between the coin passage and the sensor surface so that the sensor does not give a signal instead of the passing coin. A coin device comprising a guard portion for guarding from a body. In a coin device in which a coin passage into which a coin is inserted is optically detected by a detection optical path with a non-contact distance between the inserted and passed coins, and the output of this sensor is used for managing coins and operating devices ,
The pseudo signal body that enters the coin passage is positioned outside the detection optical path between the coin passage and the sensor surface so that the sensor does not reach a predetermined position in front of the sensor that gives a signal in place of the passing coin to the sensor. A coin device comprising a guard portion for guarding against a signal body. 3. The coin according to claim 1, wherein the detection optical path is a reflection optical path, and the predetermined position is a position where the signal handling part of the pseudo signal body faces the light projecting part and the light receiving part of the sensor surface. machine. The coin device according to claim 3, wherein the guard unit receives the pseudo signal body at a position shifted from a predetermined position in front of the sensor or in a surface direction of the sensor surface. In a sensor that optically detects a coin that is inserted and passed through a reflective detection optical path with a non-contact distance in a coin path into which a coin is inserted,
A guard portion that guards from the pseudo signal body within the non-contact distance outside the detection optical path is provided on the sensor surface so that the pseudo signal body is positioned at a predetermined position in front of the sensor surface and does not give a signal in place of the passing coin. A sensor characterized by being provided. In a sensor that optically detects a coin that is inserted and passed through a reflective detection optical path with a non-contact distance in a coin path into which a coin is inserted,
A guard portion that guards against the pseudo signal body within the non-contact distance outside the detection optical path on the sensor surface so that the pseudo signal body does not reach a predetermined position in front of the sensor that gives the sensor a signal instead of a passing coin. A sensor characterized by being provided.

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