JP2007054395A - Coin/game ball conveyer for game machine island - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a coin/game ball conveyer for a game machine island capable of suppressing the increase in the width of a game machine island. <P>SOLUTION: A conveyer 1 is installed in the lower part of Pachinko machines 11 and spacers 13 in the game machine island 3. The conveyer 1 is provided with a coin conveying belt 21 receiving balls (hereinafter referred to as discharge balls) discharged from the Pachinko machines 11 and coins (hereinafter referred to as discharge coins) discharged from the spacers 13 and conveying them in the direction of a safe 14, and a ball conveying belt 31 disposed under the coin conveying belt 21 and conveying the discharged balls in the direction of a lifting/feeding machine 15. The coin conveying belt 21 is formed with a plurality of ball discharge holes which are constituted to allow the passing of the discharge balls and non-allowing the passing of the discharge coins. The discharge balls received by the coin conveying belt 21 pass through the ball discharge holes, fall from the coin conveying belt 21 and are received on the ball conveying belt 31. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a coin / game ball transporting device for gaming machine islands that transports coins and gaming balls used on gaming machine islands where gaming machines are installed.

  Traditionally, on gaming machine islands where multiple pachinko machines are installed, the number of games according to the amount of coins inserted so that players can rent game balls without leaving the pachinko machine A game ball lending device (so-called pedestrian machine) that lends a ball is installed for each pachinko machine.

  By the way, in a game hall where a pachinko machine is installed, there is a ball circulation system for collecting game balls used for games (hereinafter referred to simply as “balls”) and making these balls usable repeatedly. Has been built. In the ball circulation system, the part for collecting the balls is specifically composed of a collection basket installed for each gaming machine island and a ball container installed for each pachinko machine. Among these, the collection basket extends from one end to the other end of the gaming machine island, and collects balls discharged from all the gaming machines in the gaming machine island. The ball container collects the balls launched on the game board for each gaming machine, and further guides the collected balls to the collection basket.

Furthermore, in the amusement hall, a coin collecting system for collecting coins input to the inter-machine is constructed. This coin collecting system extends from one end of the gaming machine island to the other end, receives the coins discharged and dropped from all the inter-machines in this gaming machine island, and the received coins are preset. It is comprised from the belt conveyor (henceforth a coin conveying apparatus) conveyed to a coin collection | recovery place (for example, refer patent document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-13706

By the way, as the installation position of the coin transfer device, the upper side or the lower side of the ball container can be considered.
First, when the coin conveying device is installed above the ball container, it is necessary to install the coin conveying device so as not to contact the pachinko machine on the back side of the pachinko machine. For this reason, by expanding the island width of the gaming machine island, it was necessary to secure a space for accommodating the coin transfer device without contacting the pachinko machine.

  In addition, when the coin transport device is installed below the ball container, the coin transport device blocks a path through which the ball is guided from the ball container to the collection basket (hereinafter referred to as a ball guide path). It is necessary to install so that there is not. For this reason, by expanding the island width of the gaming machine island, it was necessary to secure a space where the coin transfer device can be installed without blocking the ball guide path.

  That is, when the coin transport device is installed, the island width of the gaming machine island has to be widened, so that there is a problem that the number of pachinko machines that can be installed in the amusement hall is reduced accordingly.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and an object thereof is to provide a coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands that can suppress an increase in the island width of gaming machine islands.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a game machine that provides a game to a player by inserting a game ball, which is a game medium, and a coin, which is a game medium. A game ball that is installed on a gaming machine island where a slot machine that provides a game to a player or a pedestal machine that lends gaming media when a coin is inserted is discharged from the gaming machine Is a coin / game ball transport device for a gaming machine island that transports a discharge ball and a discharge coin that is a coin discharged from a slot machine or a pedestal machine, and accepts and transports the discharge ball and the discharge coin. The surface of the first conveyor belt that receives the discharged balls and the discharged coins is defined as a first transport surface, and the discharged balls can pass through the first transport surface and the discharged coins Passing A coin conveying means for forming a ball discharge hole, which is a through hole serving as a function, and moving the first conveying surface in a first predetermined conveying direction set for collecting the discharged coins; and a first conveying belt And a first ball transfer means for receiving a discharge ball falling through the ball discharge hole and transferring it to a predetermined transfer position set for collecting the received discharge ball.

  In the coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands configured as described above, the coin transport means moves the first transport belt formed with the ball discharge hole so that the first transport surface faces the first predetermined transport direction. Move. Further, the first sphere conveying means receives the discharged sphere that drops from the first conveying belt through the sphere discharging hole and conveys the received discharged sphere to a predetermined conveying position.

  That is, the game ball (discharge ball) discharged from the game machine and the coin (discharge coin) discharged from the slot machine or the inter-machine are first received by the first transport belt. Then, the accepted discharged coin moves toward the first predetermined transport direction in a state of being received by the first transport surface. On the other hand, the discharge ball received by the first transport belt passes through the ball discharge hole and falls from the first transport belt. Then, the discharged discharge ball is received by the first ball transfer means and transferred to a predetermined transfer position.

  For this reason, the coin conveying means and the first ball conveying means can be arranged side by side in the direction in which the game balls fall (that is, in the vertical direction). That is, since it is not necessary to arrange the coin conveying means and the first ball conveying means side by side in the island width direction of the gaming machine island, an increase in the island width of the gaming machine island can be suppressed.

  Further, in the coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine island according to claim 1, as described in claim 2, on the first transport surface, a funnel-shaped slope is formed at the hole edge of the ball discharge hole. It is good to be formed.

  In the coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands configured as described above, the discharge ball located on the funnel-shaped slope moves toward the ball discharge hole along this slope. For this reason, the discharge balls on the first conveyance surface easily fall from the first conveyance belt.

  Further, in the coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands according to claim 1 or 2, as described in claim 3, the first transport belt has a first transport surface in a first predetermined transport direction. It is good to install so that it may be provided with the part inclined so that it may become high as it goes, and the part inclined so that it may become low as it goes to the 1st predetermined conveyance direction.

  The reason for this will be described below with reference to FIGS. 17 (a) and 17 (b). 17 (a) and 17 (b) are side views of the conveyor belt BE1 for explaining the effect when the inclined portion is provided on the first conveyor belt. FIG. 17 (a) → FIG. 17 (b) In this order, the time has elapsed.

  First, as shown in FIG. 17A, the conveyor belt BE1 that conveys coins and spheres in a predetermined conveyance direction (see solid arrows in the figure) has a surface (hereinafter referred to as a conveyance surface) on the side that accepts coins and spheres. A plurality of ball discharge holes H1, H2, H3, and H4 that allow passage of a sphere and prevent passage of a coin are formed on the BS1). Further, on the side opposite to the conveyance surface BS1, conveyance rollers R1, R2, and R3 that rotate while contacting the conveyance belt BE1 are disposed. The transport roller R1 is installed at a position higher than the transport rollers R2 and R3. As a result, the conveyor belt BE1 has a conveying surface between the conveying roller R1 and the conveying roller R2 that is inclined so that the conveying surface BS1 becomes higher toward the predetermined conveying direction, and a conveying surface between the conveying roller R1 and the conveying roller R3. BS1 is configured to include a portion inclined so as to become lower as it goes in the predetermined transport direction.

  In the transport belt BE1 configured as described above, the opening of the ball discharge hole H2 is closed in the ball discharge hole H2 moving in the predetermined transport direction between the transport roller R1 and the transport roller R2. The coin C11 is placed on the transport surface BS1, and the ball P11 is placed on the transport surface BS1 in contact with the coin C11 on the upstream side in the predetermined transport direction with respect to the coin C11. It is assumed that the ball P12 is placed on the transport surface BS1 in a state where it contacts the coin C11 on the downstream side in the predetermined transport direction.

  At this time, when the force acting on the sphere P11 toward the upstream side in the predetermined conveyance direction is larger than the frictional force between the sphere P11 and the conveyance surface BS, the sphere P1 moves toward the upstream side in the predetermined conveyance direction. Roll. When the rolling ball P11 reaches a ball discharge hole (for example, the ball discharge hole H1 in the figure) formed on the upstream side, the ball P11 passes through the ball discharge hole and falls from the conveyance belt BE1 (in the figure). (See the one-dot chain arrows in FIG. 1).

On the other hand, since the movement to the upstream side is blocked by the coin C11, the sphere P12 maintains a state in contact with the coin C11.
However, as shown in FIG. 17B, when the ball discharge hole H2 exceeds the transport roller R1 due to further movement of the transport belt BE1, a force toward the downstream side in the predetermined transport direction acts on the ball P12. . When the frictional force between the ball P12 and the conveyance surface BS is greater than the ball P12, the ball P12 is not prevented from moving by the coin C1, and therefore rolls toward the downstream side in the predetermined conveyance direction. When the rolling sphere P12 reaches a sphere discharge hole formed on the downstream side (for example, the sphere discharge hole H3 in the figure), it passes through the sphere discharge hole and falls from the conveying belt BE1 (in the figure). (See the one-dot chain arrows in FIG. 1).

  That is, in the coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands according to claim 3, the discharged balls contact the upstream or downstream side of the first predetermined transport direction with respect to the discharged coins on the first transport surface. Even if the movement is blocked, the portion inclined to become higher as it goes in the first predetermined conveyance direction and the inclination to become higher in the direction opposite to the first predetermined conveyance direction By passing through both of the portions, it is possible to eliminate the blocking by the discharged coins of the movement of the discharged balls on the first transport surface. And a possibility that a discharge ball will reach a ball discharge hole will increase because a discharge ball moves on the 1st conveyance surface. Accordingly, the discharge balls on the first transport surface can be easily dropped from the first transport belt.

  Further, in the coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the discharge ball on the first transport surface is guided to the ball discharge hole as described in claim 4. It is good to provide the guidance means to do.

  In the coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine island configured as described above, the discharge ball on the first transport surface is guided to the ball discharge hole, so that the discharge ball on the first transport surface is transferred to the first transport surface. It becomes easy to fall from the belt.

  Further, in the coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands according to any one of claims 1 to 4, as described in claim 5, it is preferable to include vibration means for vibrating the first transport belt. .

  In the coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands configured as described above, the discharged balls that have stopped on the first transport surface move on the first transport surface by vibration. When the moving discharge ball reaches the ball discharge hole, the discharge ball passes through the ball discharge hole and falls from the first conveying belt. That is, the discharge balls on the first transport surface are easily dropped from the first transport belt.

  Further, in the coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands according to any one of claims 1 to 5, as described in claim 6, the discharge balls are higher than the width of the discharged coins and are discharged from the first transport surface. Is disposed at a position lower than the diameter of the ejected coin, allows movement of the ejected coin on the first transport surface in the first predetermined transport direction, and moves the ejected ball on the first transport surface in the first predetermined transport direction. It is preferable to provide ball blocking means for blocking the movement.

  The reason for this will be described below with reference to FIGS. 17 (c) and 17 (d). 17 (c) and 17 (d) are side views of the conveyor belt BE2 for explaining the effect when the ball blocking means is provided, and time elapses in the order of FIG. 17 (c) → FIG. 17 (d). Shows the state.

  First, as shown in FIG. 17C, the conveyor belt BE2 that conveys coins and balls in a predetermined conveyance direction (see solid arrows in the figure) has a surface (hereinafter referred to as a conveyance surface) on the side that accepts coins and balls. A plurality of ball discharge holes H5 and H6 are formed on the surface (referred to as BS2) through which spheres can pass and coins cannot pass.

  In addition, the transfer surface BS2 is disposed at a position higher than the width of the coin and lower than the diameter of the sphere, and allows the coin on the transfer surface BS2 to move in the predetermined transfer direction and the predetermined sphere on the transfer surface BS2. A filter F1 that prevents movement in the transport direction is provided.

  In the transport belt BE2 configured as described above, the coin C12 is placed on the transport surface BS2 with the opening in the ball discharge hole H6 being closed, and the ball P13 is placed on the coin C12. Suppose that the coin C12 and the ball P13 approach the filter F1.

  At this time, the coin C12 passes immediately below the filter F1, while the ball P13 is prevented from moving by the filter F1 (see FIG. 17D). As a result, the sphere P13 is changed from being placed on the coin C12 to being placed on the transport surface BS2. When the ball P13 on the transport surface BS2 reaches a ball discharge hole (for example, a ball discharge hole H5 in the drawing) formed on the upstream side, the ball P13 passes through the ball discharge hole and falls from the transport belt BE2. To do.

  That is, by eliminating the state where the discharge ball is placed on the discharge coin, the possibility that the discharge ball reaches the ball discharge hole is increased. Accordingly, the discharge balls on the first transport surface can be easily dropped from the first transport belt.

  Further, in the coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands according to any one of claims 1 to 6, as described in claim 7, the first ball transport means receives and transports the discharged balls. The second conveying belt has a second conveying surface as a second conveying surface, and the second conveying belt is set so that the discharging balls on the second conveying surface reach a predetermined conveying position. (2) Second ball conveying means for moving the second conveying surface in a predetermined conveying direction may be used.

  In the coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine island configured as described above, the coin transport means and the second ball transport means are transported using a transport belt, so that the coin transport means and the second ball transport means A similar control method can be adopted. That is, it becomes easy for the designer of the coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands to design the device.

  Incidentally, the coin ball conveying means may be operated when a preset condition is satisfied without always operating. For example, it is conceivable to operate for 1 minute every 5 minutes. If it does in this way, the power consumption for operating a coin ball transportation means can be controlled.

  However, since the discharged coins are accumulated on the first transfer surface when the coin transfer means is not operating, the discharged coins often block the ball discharge hole. That is, when the coin transport unit is not operating, the discharged balls on the first transport surface are less likely to fall from the coin transport unit through the ball discharge hole. After that, when the coin transport means starts operating, the discharged coins on the first transport surface are transported to a preset coin collection place, so that the number of discharged coins on the first transport surface is reduced and opened by the discharged coins. The number of ball discharge holes whose parts are blocked decreases. As a result, the discharge balls on the first transfer surface can easily fall from the coin transfer means through the ball discharge hole. That is, when the coin transport means starts operating, many discharged balls may fall from the coin transport means at once.

  Accordingly, in the coin / game ball transport apparatus for gaming machine islands according to claim 7, as described in claim 8, when the coin transport means is not operating, the ball transport prohibition prohibits the operation of the second ball transport means. Means may be provided.

  In the coin / game ball transport apparatus for gaming machine islands configured as described above, the second ball transport means operates when the coin transport means operates, and the second ball transport means does not operate when the coin transport means does not operate. .

  For this reason, it is possible to suppress the power consumption for operating the second ball conveying means than when the second ball conveying means is always operated. Further, even if many discharged balls fall from the coin transport means at the same time when the coin transport means starts operating, the second ball transport means operates during the operation of the coin transport means, so that many discharged balls are second It is not accumulated in the ball conveying means and is conveyed to a predetermined conveying position.

  Further, in the coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands according to any one of claims 1 to 6, as described in claim 9, the first ball transport means becomes lower toward the predetermined transport position. You may make it be a ridge in which the inclined surface was formed.

  In the coin / game ball transport apparatus for gaming machine islands configured as described above, the discharged balls received by the first ball transport means move along the inclination of the basket and reach a predetermined transport position. In other words, power consumption for transporting the discharge ball received by the first ball transport means to a predetermined transport position is not required, and power consumption can be suppressed.

  In addition, in the coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands according to any one of claims 1 to 9, as described in claim 10, for each slot machine or inter-machine, the slot machine or inter-machine A coin coin counting means for counting the number of coins discharged from the machine, and a predetermined coin meter in which the number of coins discharged from the slot machine or the inter-machine is preset based on the counting result by the coin coin counting means When it is less than the numerical value, it is preferable to provide a first coin transport prohibiting unit that prohibits the operation of the coin transport unit.

  In the coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands configured as described above, when the number of coins discharged from the slot machine or the inter-board machine exceeds a predetermined coin count value, the coin transport means starts its operation.

  That is, when the number of coins to be ejected is less than the predetermined coin count value, the coin transport means stops operating. For this reason, it is possible to suppress the power consumption for operating the coin conveying means, compared to the case where the coin conveying means is always operated.

Further, the consumption of the first conveyance belt itself and the consumption of the means (for example, a motor) for driving the first conveyance belt can be suppressed as compared with the case where the coin conveyance unit is always operated.
Further, in the coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands according to claim 10, the device for controlling the operation / stop of the coin transport means based on the coin discharge amount for each slot machine or inter-machine is shown. The operation / stop of the coin conveying means may be controlled based on the total amount of coins discharged from all slot machines or inter-machines installed on the gaming machine island.

  That is, in the coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands according to any one of claims 1 to 9, as described in claim 11, for each slot machine or inter-machine, the slot machine or the machine Emission coin counting means for counting the number of coins discharged from the machine, and discharges from all slot machines or inter-machines installed on the gaming machine island based on the counting result by the discharged coin counting means When the total number of coins is less than a predetermined total coin value, a second coin transport prohibiting unit that prohibits the operation of the coin transport unit may be provided.

  With the coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands configured as described above, when the total number of coins discharged from all slot machines or inter-machines installed on the gaming machine island exceeds a predetermined coin total value The coin carrying means starts to operate.

  That is, when the total number of coins to be ejected is less than the predetermined coin total value, the coin transport means stops operating. For this reason, it is possible to suppress the power consumption for operating the coin conveying means, compared to the case where the coin conveying means is always operated. Further, the consumption of the first conveyance belt itself and the consumption of the means (for example, a motor) for driving the first conveyance belt can be suppressed as compared with the case where the coin conveyance unit is always operated.

  Furthermore, in the coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands according to claim 10 and claim 11, a device for controlling the operation / stop of the coin transport means based on the coin discharge amount from the slot machine or the inter-machine. Although shown, the operation / stop of the coin conveying means may be controlled based on the amount of game ball discharged from the gaming machine.

  That is, in the coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands according to any one of claims 1 to 11, as described in claim 12, the discharge balls discharged from the gaming machine for each gaming machine. Based on the discharge ball counting means for counting the number and the counting result by the discharge ball counting means, the total number of discharged balls discharged from all the gaming machines installed on the gaming machine island is less than a predetermined predetermined total number of balls. In this case, a third coin transport prohibiting unit that prohibits the operation of the coin transport unit may be provided.

In the coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands configured as described above, the coin transport means starts operation when the number of discharged balls discharged from the gaming machine exceeds a predetermined total ball value.
That is, when the number of ejected balls is less than the predetermined total number of balls, the coin transport unit stops operating. For this reason, it is possible to suppress the power consumption for operating the coin conveying means, compared to the case where the coin conveying means is always operated. Further, the consumption of the first conveyance belt itself and the consumption of the means (for example, a motor) for driving the first conveyance belt can be suppressed as compared with the case where the coin conveyance unit is always operated.

  For the predetermined coin count value, the predetermined coin total value, and the predetermined ball total value according to claims 10 to 12, the coin transfer means efficiently places the discharged coins and discharge balls on the first transfer belt. It may be set so that it can be transported (that is, a large number of discharged coins and balls can be transported with low power consumption), or it may be set so that an excessive load is not applied to the first transport belt and the motor. Good.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a coin / game ball transport apparatus (hereinafter also referred to as a transport apparatus) 1 for gaming machine islands to which the present invention is applied.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming machine island 3 includes a plurality of pachinko gaming machines (hereinafter referred to as pachinko machines) 11 arranged in parallel along the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 3, and a lower part of each pachinko machine 11. An outbox 12 that collects the game balls (hereinafter referred to as balls) launched on the game board in the corresponding pachinko machine 11 and counts the number of the collected balls, and the side of each pachinko machine 11 Is installed on the right side (right side in the figure) and has a slot that can insert coins of a preset amount (for example, 100 yen coins and 500 yen coins), depending on the amount of coins inserted into this slot A ball machine 13 that lends a certain number of balls to a player, a safe 14 that stores coins, and a ball that is installed at the center of the gaming machine island 3 in the longitudinal direction and that is transported by the transport device 1 on the gaming machine island 3 Lifting machine 15 that lifts to the upper part and pachinko machine 11 A distribution basket 16 that is installed above and distributes the balls lifted by the lifter 15 to each pachinko machine 11 and a transfer device 1 that transfers coins and balls to the safe 14 and the lifter 15 are attached. ing.

  It should be noted that each pachinko machine 11 in the game hall is given a unique number for identifying the position of the pachinko machine 11 in the game hall (hereinafter referred to as a machine number) (pachinko machine 11 in FIG. 1). Are numbered from 221 to 230.)

Among these, the pachinko machine 11 is configured to discharge the ball below the pachinko machine 11. Hereinafter, the ball discharged from the pachinko machine 11 is referred to as a discharge ball.
The out box 12 is configured to discharge the balls collected from the pachinko machine 11 to the lower side of the out box 12.

In addition, the pedestal machine 13 is configured to discharge the coins inserted into the insertion slot to the lower side of the pedestal machine 13.
Further, the transport device 1 includes a coin transport belt 21 that receives and transports the discharged balls discharged from the out box 12 and coins discharged from the inter-machine 13 (hereinafter also referred to as discharged coins), and a coin transport belt. A driving roller 22 and a driven roller 23 for moving 21, a low position roller 24 and a high position roller 25 for setting the height of a coin conveying surface (described later) in the coin conveying belt 21, and a coin conveying A filter 26 for preventing the discharged balls conveyed by the belt 21 from reaching the safe 14, a ball conveying belt 31 for receiving and conveying the discharged balls, and a driving roller for moving the ball conveying belt 31 32, a driven roller 33, a guide passage 34 for guiding the discharged balls conveyed by the ball conveying belt 31 to the lifting machine 15, and the entire conveying device 1 And a drive motor 22a (see FIG. 5) that drives the drive roller 22, and a drive motor 32a (see FIG. 5) that drives the drive roller 32. .

  Among these, the coin transport belt 21 is installed below the out box 12 and the inter-machine 13 and is endlessly formed by the driving roller 22 and the driven roller 23 from the vicinity of one end in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 3 to the vicinity of the center. It is passed over to. As a result, in the coin transport belt 21, the upper portion of the coin transport belt 21 sandwiching the drive roller 22 and the driven roller 23 (hereinafter referred to as the coin belt) by the rotation of the drive roller 22 (counterclockwise in FIG. 1). 1 moves from the right to the left in FIG. 1 (see arrow D1 in FIG. 1. Hereinafter, this direction is referred to as the coin conveyance direction), and the lower part (hereinafter referred to as the coin belt return path). 1) moves from left to right in FIG.

  Further, the low position roller 24 and the high position roller 25 are disposed so as to contact the coin belt forward path portion on the side opposite to the out box 12 across the coin belt forward path portion, and follow the movement of the coin transport belt 21. It is a rotating roller.

  In the present embodiment, the low position rollers 24 and the high position rollers 25 are alternately arranged along the coin conveyance direction. The high position rollers 25 are arranged such that the installation interval between the adjacent high position rollers 25 is substantially equal to the installation interval between the adjacent pachinko machines 11. That is, the coin transport belt 21 is set so as to exceed the high position roller 25 once when the coin belt forward path moves by the installation interval of the pachinko machine 11.

  Furthermore, the high position roller 25 is installed at a position higher than the low position roller 24. As a result, in the coin belt forward path portion of the coin transport belt 21, a portion that is inclined so as to increase in the coin transport direction between the low position roller 24 and the high position roller 25 (the low position roller 24 is high). And a portion inclined so as to become lower toward the coin conveyance direction (the low position roller 24 is downstream of the high position roller 25 in the coin conveyance direction). Are arranged).

The filter 26 is disposed in the vicinity of the high position roller 25 on the side opposite to the high position roller 25 across the coin belt forward path.
Next, the ball transport belt 31 is installed between the coin belt forward path portion and the coin belt return path portion, and the drive roller 32 and the driven roller 33 extend from one end in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 3 to the vicinity of the center. It is bridged endlessly. Thus, in the ball transport belt 31, the upper portion of the ball transport belt 31 sandwiching the drive roller 32 and the driven roller 33 is rotated from the left to the right in FIG. 1 by the rotation of the drive roller 32 (clockwise in FIG. 1). The direction moves (see arrow D2 in FIG. 1; hereinafter, this direction is referred to as a ball conveyance direction), and the lower portion moves from the right to the left in FIG.

  In addition, the guide passage 34 is installed below the driven roller 33 and is inclined downward from the vicinity of the driven roller 33 toward the lower portion of the lifter 15. Thus, when the discharge ball transported to the driven roller 33 by the ball transport belt 31 falls from the ball transport belt 31, the guide passage 34 accepts the falling discharge ball and moves it to the lower portion of the lifter 15. Induce.

  The safe 14 is installed in the vicinity of the driving roller 22, and accepts the falling discharged coin when the discharged coin transported to the driving roller 22 by the coin transport belt 21 falls from the coin transport belt 21. Configured to be stored.

Next, the configuration of the coin conveyor belt 21 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2A is a plan view of the coin conveyor belt 21, and FIG. 2B is a diagram showing a cross-section taken along the line AA of FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the coin transport belt 21 includes a belt main body 51 formed in a belt shape made of, for example, rubber or the like, a discharge ball of the belt main body 51, and a side for receiving discharged coins. A plurality of ball discharge holes 52 formed on the surface (hereinafter referred to as a coin transfer surface) and configured to allow the discharge balls to pass therethrough and prevent the discharge coins from passing therethrough, and both ends in the width direction on the coin transfer surface In the inside of the belt main body 51, a shielding convex portion 53 for preventing the discharge ball on the coin conveyance surface from falling from the end edge portion, which is erected over the entire circumference of each edge portion. The belt main body 51 is embedded over the entire circumference and includes a reinforcing wire 54 that reinforces the strength of the coin transport belt 21.

  The ball discharge hole 52 has a cylindrical through hole 52a having a diameter larger than the diameter of the discharge ball and smaller than the diameter of the discharged coin, and a funnel-like shape at the hole edge of the through hole 52a on the coin transfer surface. And the inclined portion 52b. In the present embodiment, the plurality of ball discharge holes 52 are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the belt main body 51, and are equally spaced along the width direction (this interval is hereinafter referred to as the width direction discharge hole interval). Are arranged in line with each other.

Next, the configuration of the filter 26 will be described with reference to FIG. 3A is a plan view of the filter 26, and FIG. 3B is a side view of the filter 26.
As shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b), the filter 26 prevents the passage of the discharge ball, and guides the blocked discharge ball to a preset predetermined guide position, A support portion 62 that supports the guide member 61 so as to be movable up and down on the coin conveyance surface, a lower restricting member 63 that restricts the downward movement of the ball guide member 61, and an upward movement of the ball guide member 61. And an urging spring 65 for urging the ball guide member 61 downward.

  Among these, the spherical guide member 61 has a substantially V-shaped concave portion (hereinafter referred to as a V-shaped concave portion) along the width direction discharge hole interval along a preset direction (hereinafter referred to as a concave portion arrangement direction). Each shape is formed.

  Further, the support portion 62 moves the ball guide member 61 to the coin belt so that the inner side of the V-shaped concave portion faces the upstream side in the coin conveyance direction, and the concave portion arrangement direction coincides with the width direction of the belt main body 51. It supports on the opposite side to the high position roller 25 across the forward path portion.

The lower regulating member 63 is fixed to the support portion 62 so that the height of the lower regulating member 63 protruding from the coin conveyance surface is higher than the width of the discharged coin and lower than the diameter of the discharged ball.
The upper regulating member 64 is fixed to the support portion 62 so as to be disposed at a position higher than the diameter of the discharge ball from the coin conveyance surface.

The biasing spring 65 has one end connected to the upper restricting member 64 and the other end connected to the ball guiding member 61.
Next, the configuration of the ball transport belt 31 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4A is a plan view of the ball conveyor belt 31, and FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a cross-section taken along the line AA in FIG. 4A.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the ball transport belt 31 includes a belt main body 71 formed in a band shape made of, for example, rubber or the like, and a surface on the side of receiving the discharged balls of the belt main body 71 ( Hereinafter, a plurality of dimples 72 formed on the sphere conveying surface and having a circular arc-shaped cross-section, and end edges at both ends in the width direction on the sphere conveying surface are provided over the entire circumference. A shield projection 73 for preventing the discharge ball on the ball transport surface from falling from the end edge, and the belt body 71 is embedded over the entire circumference of the belt body 71, It comprises a reinforcing wire 74 that reinforces the strength of the ball conveyor belt 31.

Next, the electrical configuration of the transport apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the transport apparatus 1, the out box 12, and the inter-vehicle machine 13.
As shown in FIG. 5, when the outbox 12 discharges the collected discharge balls from a discharge port provided in advance, a predetermined ball detection value (for example, the number of discharge balls passing through the discharge port is set in advance). 10), a ball counter 12a that transmits ball count information indicating that is provided. Note that the ball count information is provided with the machine number information indicating the machine number of the pachinko machine 11 corresponding to the outbox 12.

  Further, when the inter-machine 13 discharges the inserted coins from a discharge port provided in advance, a predetermined coin detection value (for example, 10) in which the number of coins (discharge coins) passing through the discharge port is set in advance. A coin counting machine 13a that transmits coin counting information indicating that every time the number of coins is reached. The coin count information is provided with machine number information indicating the machine number of the pachinko machine 11 corresponding to the machine 13.

Moreover, the conveying apparatus 1 is comprised from the drive motor 22a and the drive motor 32a, and the control apparatus 40 which controls the drive motor 22a and the drive motor 32a.
Among them, the control device 40 includes a motor drive circuit 42 for transmitting a drive signal to the drive motor 22a and the drive motor 32a, and a ball counter 12a corresponding to the outbox 12 to which the transport device 1 is to transport the discharged balls. The communication unit 43 that receives the ball count information and receives the coin count information from the coin counter 13a corresponding to the interstage machine 13 to which the transport device 1 is to transport the discharged coins, and the entire control device 40 It is comprised from the control part 41 which controls operation | movement.

  The control unit 41 is connected to a CPU 81 that executes processing based on a predetermined processing program, a ROM 82 that stores various processing programs, a RAM 83 that stores various data, a motor drive circuit 42 and a communication unit 43. The CPU 81 and the RAM 83 include an input / output unit 84 that inputs and outputs signals and data. The CPU 81, the ROM 82, the RAM 83, and the input / output unit 84 are connected via a bus 85.

  In the RAM 83, as shown in FIG. 11A, the number of discharged balls (hereinafter referred to as the number of discharged balls) discharged from the outbox 12 to which the transfer device 1 is to transport the discharged balls. The number of coins to be discharged (hereinafter referred to as the number of coins to be discharged), which is stored for each outbox 12 and is discharged from the table machine 13 to which the transfer device 1 is to transfer the discharged coins, is set for each table unit 13. A storage area of the ball / coin discharge number list 83a to be stored is secured.

  The RAM 83 also includes a total discharge ball number storage buffer B1 for storing a total discharge ball value indicating the total number of discharge balls on the coin transport belt 21, and a total discharge coin indicating the total number of coins discharged on the coin transport belt 21. A total discharged coin number storage buffer B2 for storing numerical values is provided.

  The motor drive circuit 42 receives a coin conveyance belt movement command (ball conveyance belt movement command) when a coin conveyance belt movement command (ball conveyance belt movement command) for moving the coin conveyance belt 21 (ball conveyance belt 31) is input. The movement number information (described later) given to the (command) is extracted, and the coin conveyor belt 21 (ball conveyor belt 31) moves along a distance corresponding to the belt movement number (described later) indicated by the movement number information. In addition, the drive motor 22a (drive motor 32a) is driven. For example, when the number of belt movements is “5”, the distance corresponding to five times the distance between pachinko machines 11 installed adjacent to each other (hereinafter referred to as “inter-pachinko machine distance”) is moved.

  In the transport apparatus 1 configured as described above, the CPU 81 performs a discharge number list update process for updating the ball / coin discharge number list 83a based on the ball count information and the coin count information, and the movement of the coin transport belt 21. A coin belt movement control process to be controlled and a ball belt movement control process to control the movement of the ball conveyor belt 31 are executed.

  Here, the procedure of the discharge number list update process executed by the CPU 81 of the transport apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the discharge number list update process. The discharge number list update process is a process that is repeatedly executed while the CPU 81 is activated (powered on).

  When this discharge number list update process is executed, the CPU 81 first determines in S10 whether or not ball count information has been received from the ball counter 12a. If the ball count information is not received (S10: NO), the process proceeds to S40.

  On the other hand, when the ball count information is received (S10: YES), the ball / coin discharge number list 83a is updated based on the received ball count information in S20. That is, the unit number information is extracted from the received ball count information, and then the value of the number of discharged balls in the outbox 12 corresponding to the unit number indicated by the unit number information is set to 10 in the ball / coin discharge number list 83a. to add. In S30, the total sum of all the number of discharged balls in the ball / coin discharged number list 83a (that is, the number of discharged balls of the base numbers 221 to 230) is calculated, and this total value is set as the total discharged ball value, The number is stored in the number storage buffer B1, and the process proceeds to S40.

  In S40, it is determined whether or not coin count information is received from the coin counter 13a. If coin count information has not been received (S40: NO), the process proceeds to S70.

  On the other hand, when coin count information is received (S40: YES), the ball / coin discharge number list 83a is updated based on the received coin count information in S50. That is, the unit number information is extracted from the received coin count information, and then the value of the number of coins discharged corresponding to the unit number indicated by the unit number information is added by 10 in the ball / coin discharge number list 83a. In S60, the total sum of all the coins discharged in the ball / coin discharge number list 83a (that is, the number of coins discharged in the unit numbers 221 to 230) is calculated, and this total value is used as the total discharged coin value. The number is stored in the number storage buffer B2, and the process proceeds to S70.

  Then, when the process proceeds to S70, it is determined whether or not the control device 40 has output a coin transport belt movement command. If the coin conveyor belt movement command is not output (S70: NO), the discharge number list update process is terminated.

  On the other hand, when the coin transport belt movement command is output (S70: YES), the number of balls / coins discharged is determined based on the number of belt movements indicated by the travel number information given to the coin transport belt movement command in S80. The list 83a is updated. That is, all the number of discharged balls in the ball / coin discharge number list 83a is set to 0, and the value of the number of coins discharged in the ball / coin discharge number list 83a is increased by the number of belt movements. In other words, when the coin transport belt 21 moves, all the discharge balls on the coin transport surface fall, and the discharged coins on the coin transport surface approach the safe 14 by the number of belt movements. The ball / coin discharge number list 83a is updated.

  For example, when the number of belt movements is “3”, as shown in FIG. 11B, the number of coins discharged corresponding to the table number 229 (20 in FIG. 11B) is discharged corresponding to the table number 226. Set to the number of coins. If there is no number of coins to be advanced in the number of coins corresponding to a certain unit number, the number of coins to be discharged is set to “0”. For example, in FIG. 11B, the number of discharged coins corresponding to the unit numbers 228 to 230 is set to “0”.

  After that, in S90, the sum of all the discharged balls in the ball / coin discharged number list 83a is calculated, and this total value is stored as a total discharged ball number in the total discharged ball number storage buffer B1, and the ball / coin discharged The sum of all the number of coins discharged in the number list 83a is calculated, and this sum value is stored in the total coin discharge number storage buffer B2 as the total number of discharged coins. Then, the discharge number list update process ends.

  Next, the procedure of the coin belt movement control process executed by the CPU 81 of the transport apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the coin belt movement control process. The coin belt movement control process is a process repeatedly executed while the CPU 81 is activated (powered on).

  In the coin belt movement control process, the number of discharged balls corresponding to the table numbers 221, 222, 223,..., 229, 230 in the ball / coin discharged number list 83a is set as the number of discharged balls N1 (1), N1 (2), N1 (3),..., N1 (9), N1 (10). In addition, the number of coins to be ejected corresponding to the table numbers 221, 222, 223,... ,..., N2 (9), N2 (10).

  Further, the first vehicle identification number i, the second vehicle identification number j, the movement number determination value k, the coin total number determination value S, and the belt movement number provisional value p used in the coin belt movement control process described below are 0. It is a variable that takes the above integer values.

  When the coin belt movement control process is executed, first, in S210, the CPU 81 stores a predetermined discharge ball total value (a total discharge ball value) stored in the total discharge ball number storage buffer B1 in advance (a predetermined discharge ball total value). In the present embodiment, for example, it is determined whether or not the value is larger than a value corresponding to 2000 gaming balls.

  Here, when the total number of discharged balls is equal to or less than the predetermined number of discharged balls (S210: NO), the process proceeds to S230. On the other hand, if the total number of discharged balls is larger than the total number of discharged balls (S210: YES), in S220, the belt movement number provisional value p is set in advance to a predetermined number of islands (in the present embodiment, the unit number). Since ten pachinko machines 11 of 221 to 230 are installed, “10” is set), and the process proceeds to S230.

  In S230, the value of the first vehicle identification number i is incremented by 1, and in S240, it is determined whether or not the value of the first vehicle identification number i is larger than the number of vehicles in the predetermined island. Here, when the first vehicle identification number i is larger than the predetermined number of islands (S240: YES), the process proceeds to S270.

  On the other hand, when the first vehicle identification number i is equal to or smaller than the predetermined island number (S240: NO), in S250, the number of coins to be discharged N2 (i) is set to a predetermined discharged coin value (in this embodiment, For example, it is determined whether or not the value is equivalent to 50 coins. Here, when the number N2 (i) of discharged coins is equal to or smaller than the predetermined number of discharged coins (S240: NO), the process proceeds to S230 and the above process is repeated. On the other hand, if the number N2 (i) of discharged coins is larger than the predetermined number of discharged coins (S250: YES), the belt movement number provisional value p is set to 1 in S260, and the process proceeds to S270.

  In S270, the value of the first machine identification number i is set to 0, and the value of the second machine identification number j is incremented by 1 in S280. Thereafter, in S290, it is determined whether or not the value of the second vehicle identification number j is larger than the predetermined island number. Here, when the second vehicle identification number j is larger than the predetermined number of islands (S290: YES), the process proceeds to S360.

  On the other hand, if the second vehicle identification number j is less than or equal to the predetermined island number (S290: NO), the number of coins discharged N2 (j) is added to the coin total number determination value S in S300, and in S310. It is determined whether or not the movement number determination value k is greater than zero.

  Here, when the movement number determination value k is 0 (S310: NO), in S320, the first predetermined coin total value (in this embodiment, for example, coin 100 is set) with the coin total determination value S set in advance. It is determined whether or not it is greater than the value corresponding to the sheet. Here, when the coin total number determination value S is equal to or less than the first predetermined coin total value (S320: NO), the process proceeds to S280 and the above process is repeated. On the other hand, when the coin total number determination value S is larger than the first predetermined coin total number value (S320: YES), the movement number determination value k is set to the second unit identification number j in S330. And it transfers to S280 and repeats the above-mentioned process.

  In S310, when the movement number determination value k is larger than 0 (S310: YES), in S340, the coin total number determination value S is preset to be larger than the first predetermined coin value. It is determined whether or not the value is larger than a predetermined coin total value (in this embodiment, for example, a value corresponding to 200 coins). Here, when the coin total number determination value S is equal to or smaller than the second predetermined coin total value (S340: NO), the process proceeds to S280 and the above process is repeated. On the other hand, when the coin total number determination value S is larger than the second predetermined coin total number value (S340: YES), the movement number determination value k is set to (number of predetermined islands-second unit identification number j-1) in S350. Then, the process proceeds to S360.

  In S360, the second machine identification number j, the coin total number determination value S, and the movement number determination value k are set to zero. Thereafter, in S370, it is determined whether or not the provisional value p of the belt movement number is greater than zero. Here, when the belt movement number provisional value p is 0 (S370: NO), the coin belt movement control process is terminated. On the other hand, when the belt movement number provisional value p is larger than 0 (S370: YES), the movement number information is set to the belt movement number provisional value p, and this movement number information is given to the coin transport belt movement command. In S380, the coin transport belt movement command is output to the motor drive circuit 42 via the input / output unit 84. Thereafter, in S390, the belt movement number provisional value p is set to 0, and the coin belt movement control process is terminated.

  Next, the procedure of the ball belt movement control process executed by the CPU 81 of the transport apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the ball belt movement control process. This ball belt movement control process is a process repeatedly executed while the CPU 81 is activated (powered on).

  When the ball belt movement control process is executed, the CPU 81 first determines in S510 whether or not the control device 40 has output a coin transport belt movement command. Here, when the coin conveyance belt movement command is output (S510: YES), the movement number information is set to the predetermined number of islands in S520, and this movement number information is given to the ball conveyance belt movement command. Then, this ball transport belt movement command is output to the motor drive circuit 42 via the input / output unit 84. Thereafter, the ball belt movement control process is terminated.

On the other hand, when the coin conveyor belt movement command is not output (S510: NO), the ball belt movement control process is terminated.
In the transport apparatus 1 configured as described above, the coin transport belt 21 in which the ball discharge hole 52 is formed moves so that the coin transport surface faces the coin transport direction. Further, the ball transport belt 31 receives the discharge balls that fall from the coin transport belt 21 through the ball discharge hole 52 and transports the received discharge balls to the guide passage 34.

  That is, the ball discharged from the pachinko machine 11 (discharged ball) and the coin discharged from the inter-machine 13 (discharged coin) are first received by the coin conveyor belt 21. The accepted discharged coins are moved toward the coin conveyance direction in a state of being accepted by the coin conveyance surface, and are collected in the safe 14. On the other hand, the discharge ball received by the coin transport belt 21 passes through the ball discharge hole 52 and falls from the coin transport belt 21. Then, the dropped discharge ball is received by the ball transport belt 31 and transported to the guide passage 34. Further, the discharge ball received in the guide passage 34 is guided to the lower part of the lift 15.

  For this reason, the coin transport belt 21 and the ball transport belt 31 can be arranged side by side in the direction in which the discharged balls fall (that is, in the vertical direction). That is, since it is not necessary to arrange the coin transport belt 21 and the ball transport belt 31 side by side in the island width direction of the gaming machine island 3, an increase in the island width of the gaming machine island 3 can be suppressed.

  The ball discharge hole 52 includes an inclined portion 52b inclined in a funnel shape at the hole edge portion of the through hole 52a on the coin conveyance surface. That is, the discharge ball located on the inclined portion 52b moves toward the through hole 52a along this funnel-shaped inclination. For this reason, the discharge balls on the coin conveyance surface are easily dropped from the coin conveyance belt 21.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9A, the coin transport belt 21 includes a portion inclined so that the coin transport surface becomes higher toward the coin transport direction (hereinafter referred to as an upward inclined portion), and a coin A portion (hereinafter referred to as a descending inclined portion) that is inclined so as to become lower toward the conveyance direction.

  For this reason, with respect to the discharge ball P1, the coin transfer is performed with respect to the discharge ball P1 with respect to the discharge ball P1 in a state where the discharge coin C1 is in contact with the discharge coin C1 on the upstream side in the coin transfer direction. When the force acting toward the upstream side in the direction is larger than the frictional force between the discharge ball P1 and the coin conveyance surface, the discharge ball P1 rolls toward the upstream side in the coin conveyance direction. When the rolling discharge ball P1 reaches the ball discharge hole 52 formed on the upstream side, it passes through the ball discharge hole 52 and falls from the coin conveyor belt 21.

  On the other hand, the coin C2 prevents the discharge ball P2 placed on the coin transfer surface in contact with the discharge coin C2 on the downstream side in the coin transfer direction from being moved upstream by the coin C2. Therefore, the state in contact with the coin C2 is maintained.

  However, regarding the discharge ball P3 placed on the coin transfer surface in contact with the discharge coin C3 on the downstream side in the coin transfer direction in the descending inclined portion, the coin transfer direction with respect to the discharge ball P3. When the force acting toward the downstream side is larger than the frictional force between the discharge ball P3 and the coin conveyance surface, the discharge ball P3 rolls toward the downstream side in the coin conveyance direction. When the rolling discharge ball P3 reaches the ball discharge hole 52 formed on the downstream side, it passes through the ball discharge hole 52 and falls from the coin conveyor belt 21.

  In other words, even when the movement of the discharged ball is prevented from contacting the discharged coin on the upstream side or the downstream side in the coin transfer direction on the coin transfer surface, the rising inclined portion By passing through both the downward slope and the descending inclined portion, it is possible to eliminate the blocking by the discharged coins of the movement of the discharged balls on the coin conveyance surface. The possibility that the discharged ball reaches the ball discharge hole 52 increases as the discharged ball moves on the coin conveyance surface. Therefore, the discharged balls on the coin transport surface can be easily dropped from the coin transport belt 21.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10A, the ball guide member 61 is arranged so that the inner side of the substantially V-shaped concave portion faces the upstream side in the coin conveyance direction D1, and further, the movement path of the ball discharge hole 52 It is set so that a substantially V-shaped apex portion in the concave portion is arranged immediately above the concave portion.

  For this reason, when the discharge ball conveyed from the upstream in the coin conveyance direction reaches the ball guide member 61 and comes into contact with the substantially V-shaped linear portion in the recess, it follows the substantially V-shaped linear portion in the recess. And is guided to the ball discharge hole 52 (see the discharge ball P4 and the one-dot chain line arrow in the figure). Accordingly, the discharged balls on the coin transport surface are likely to fall from the coin transport belt 21.

  Further, the ball guide member 61 is moved downward by a lower regulating member 63 fixed to the support portion 62 so that the height protruding from the coin conveyance surface is higher than the width of the discharged coin and lower than the diameter of the discharged ball. Movement to is restricted. For this reason, the discharged coins on the coin transport surface can pass directly under the ball guide member 61. On the other hand, the discharge balls on the coin transfer surface are prevented from moving by the ball guide member 61.

  Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 10 (a), the discharged coin C5 is placed on the coin transfer surface with the opening in the ball discharge hole 52 closed, and the discharged ball P5 is further placed on the discharged coin C5. When the ejected coin C5 and the ejected ball P5 approach the ball guiding member 61 in the placed state, the ejected coin C5 passes directly under the ball guiding member 61, whereas the ejected ball P5 is guided by the ball. The movement is prevented by the member 61. As a result, the discharged ball P5 changes from the state of being placed on the discharged coin C5 to the state of being placed on the coin transfer surface. Then, when the discharge ball P5 on the coin transport surface reaches the ball discharge hole 52 formed on the upstream side, it passes through the ball discharge hole 52 and falls from the coin transport belt 21.

  That is, by eliminating the state in which the discharge ball is placed on the discharge coin, the possibility that the discharge ball reaches the ball discharge hole 52 is increased. Therefore, the discharged balls on the coin transport surface can be easily dropped from the coin transport belt 21.

  Further, even when the discharge ball on the coin transfer surface does not fall from the coin transfer belt 21 without passing through the ball discharge hole 52, the discharge ball continues to move in the coin transfer direction and is collected by the safe 14. Can be prevented from occurring.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 10B, the discharged coins C6, C7, C8 are placed in a state where they are stacked on the coin carrying surface, and the discharged balls placed on the coin carrying surface. When P6 is in contact with the discharge coin C8 arranged on the most downstream side among the discharged coins C6, C7, and C8 on the downstream side in the coin transport direction, the discharge ball P6 is in the coin transport direction. When the ball guide member 61 is contacted from the upstream side, the discharge ball P6 is prevented from moving upstream by the discharged coins C6, C7, and C8. Therefore, the discharged ball P6 may prevent the discharged coins C6, C7, and C8 from moving in the coin transport direction.

  However, the ball guide member 61 can be moved upward to the height at which the upper restricting member 64 is disposed by the upper restricting member 64 disposed at a position higher than the diameter of the sphere from the coin conveyance surface. .

  For this reason, when the discharge ball P6 presses the ball guide member 61 in the coin conveyance direction by preventing the upstream movement by the discharge coins C6, C7, C8, the ball guide member 61 is moved upward by this pressing force. Moving. As a result, the discharge ball P6 can pass directly under the ball guide member 61. That is, even when the discharged ball is in contact with the discharged coin on the downstream side in the coin transport direction, even if the ball guide member 61 is touched, it is possible to prevent the movement of the discharged coin in the coin transport direction. .

  In addition, when the sphere conveyance surface of the sphere conveyance belt 31 is inclined so as to become higher in the sphere conveyance direction, the discharge balls on the sphere conveyance surface are opposite to the sphere conveyance direction. There is a risk of moving in the direction.

  However, a plurality of dimples 72 are formed on the ball conveyance surface of the ball conveyance belt 31. Therefore, when the discharge ball moving in the direction opposite to the ball conveyance direction enters the dimple 72, the discharge ball is confined in the dimple 72 (see FIG. 9B). That is, it is possible to prevent the discharge balls on the ball transport surface from moving in the direction opposite to the ball transport direction.

  When the coin transport belt 21 moves (S510: YES), the ball transport belt 31 moves (S520). That is, when the coin transport belt 21 is not operating, the ball transport belt 31 stops moving. For this reason, the power consumption for moving the sphere conveyance belt 31 can be suppressed as compared with the case where the sphere conveyance belt 31 is constantly moved.

  Further, when the number N2 (i) of coins discharged for a certain inter-vehicle machine 13 in the gaming machine island 3 becomes larger than the predetermined number of discharged coins (S250: YES), the coin transport belt 21 moves (S380). That is, when the number N2 (i) of discharged coins is equal to or smaller than the predetermined discharged coin number (S250: NO), the coin transport belt 21 stops moving. For this reason, the power consumption for moving the coin transport belt 21 can be suppressed as compared with the case where the coin transport belt 21 is constantly moved.

  When the coin total number determination value S becomes larger than the second predetermined coin value (S340: YES), the coin transport belt 21 moves (S380). That is, when the total number of coins (discharge coins) discharged from all the inter-machines 13 to which the transfer device 1 is to transfer the discharged coins is equal to or smaller than the second predetermined coin value (S340: NO), The conveyance belt 21 stops moving. For this reason, the power consumption for moving the coin transport belt 21 can be suppressed as compared with the case where the coin transport belt 21 is constantly moved.

  When the coin total determination value S becomes larger than the second predetermined coin value, the coin transport belt 21 moves so that the number of discharged coins corresponding to the first predetermined coin value remains on the coin transport belt 21 ( S350, S380). Therefore, by adjusting the first predetermined coin value and the second predetermined coin value, there is a large difference in the number of discharged coins remaining on the coin transport belt 21 before and after the coin transport belt 21 is moved. Can be prevented. That is, the drive load of the drive motor 22a can be made as uniform as possible.

  When the total discharged ball value becomes larger than the predetermined discharged ball total value (S210: YES), the coin transport belt 21 moves (S380). That is, when the total number of balls (discharge balls) discharged from all the pachinko machines 11 for which the transfer device 1 is to transport discharge balls is equal to or less than the predetermined discharge ball total value (S210: NO), the coin transfer belt 21 has stopped moving. For this reason, the power consumption for moving the coin transport belt 21 can be suppressed as compared with the case where the coin transport belt 21 is constantly moved.

  In the embodiment described above, the pachinko machine 11 is a gaming machine according to the present invention, the coin conveying belt 21, the driving roller 22, the driven roller 23, and the driving motor 22a are coin conveying means, the ball conveying belt 31, and the driving roller according to the present invention. 32, the driven roller 33 and the drive motor 32a are the first and second ball conveying means in the present invention, the coin conveying belt 21 is the first conveying belt in the present invention, and the coin conveying surface is the first conveying in the present invention. The surface and the coin transport direction are the first predetermined transport direction in the present invention, the ball transport belt 31 is the second transport belt in the present invention, the ball transport surface is the second transport surface in the present invention, and the ball transport direction is the present invention. The second predetermined conveying direction in FIG. 5 and the lower part of the lift 15 are the predetermined conveying positions in the present invention.

Further, the ball guide member 61 is guiding means in the present invention, the filter 26 is ball blocking means in the present invention, and the ball belt movement control processing is ball conveying prohibiting means in the present invention.
Further, the coin counter 13a is the discharged coin counting means in the present invention, the ball counter 12a is the discharged ball counting means in the present invention, and the processes of S250, 260 and S380 are the first coin transport prohibiting means in the present invention, S280 to S380. The processing is the second coin transport prohibiting means in the present invention, the processing of S210, S220 and S380 is the third coin transport prohibiting means in the present invention, the predetermined discharged coin number is the predetermined coin count value in the present invention, and the second predetermined coin total value is The predetermined coin total value and the predetermined discharged ball total value in the present invention are the predetermined ball total value in the present invention.

(Second Embodiment)
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the second embodiment, only parts different from the first embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the transfer apparatus 1 in the second embodiment, FIG. 13A is a plan view of the filter 26 in the second embodiment, and FIG. 13B is a view of the filter 26 in the second embodiment. FIG. 14 is a side view of the vibration exciter 90, and FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the transport apparatus 1, the out box 12 and the inter-story machine 13 in the second embodiment.

  The conveyance device 1 in the second embodiment is different from the conveyance device 1 in the first embodiment in that the ball conveyance belt 31, the driving roller 32, and the driven roller 33 are omitted (see FIG. 12), and a coin belt. Between the forward path part and the coin belt return path part, there is added a collection basket 36 that is installed from the vicinity of one end in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 3 to the vicinity of the center, and has an inclined surface that becomes lower toward the guide path 34. And a vibration exciter 90 that is disposed downstream of the high position roller 25 in the coin conveyance direction and vibrates the coin conveyance belt 21 at each position where the high position roller 25 is disposed. Additional points (see FIGS. 12 and 14), changes in the configuration of the filter 26 (see FIG. 13), points where the drive motor 32a is omitted (see FIG. 15), and ball belt movement control Save processing Except that it is the same as the first embodiment.

Next, the structure of the filter 26 in 2nd Embodiment is demonstrated based on FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the filter 26 includes a ball guide member 61, a support portion 62, an upper restricting member 64, an urging spring 65, and a ball guide member 61. It comprises a lower regulating member 67 that regulates movement and detects upward movement by the ball guide member 61.

  Among these, the lower regulating member 67 is disposed so that the height protruding from the coin conveyance surface is higher than the width of the discharged coin and lower than the diameter of the discharged ball, and a main body portion 67a that supports the support portion 62; The contact detection sensor 67b is turned off when the ball guide member 61 is in contact with the lower restriction member 67 and turned on when the ball guide member 61 is not in contact with the lower restriction member 67.

Next, the configuration of the vibration exciter 90 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 14, the vibration exciter 90 is connected to the vibration main body 91 having a vibration source that vibrates when the contact detection sensor 67 b is turned on, and the vibration main body 91. The vibration transmitting unit 92 transmits the vibration generated in 91 to the coin conveyor belt 21.

  The vibration main body 91 is connected to the inside of the vibration main body 91 by a contact detection sensor 67b and a conductive wire 93, and is energized when the contact detection sensor 67b is turned on. After energization, a predetermined vibration time (for example, 10 seconds) set in advance. A relay circuit (not shown) that self-holds current is provided. And the vibration main body 91 is configured to operate while the relay circuit is energized. Thereby, even if the contact detection sensor 67b is turned off from on, the vibration can be continued for a predetermined vibration time after being turned off.

  In the transport apparatus 1 configured as described above, the discharged balls dropped from the coin transport belt 21 can be collected and transported to the lifter 15 via the inclined surface formed on the recovery basket 36. That is, since power for transporting the discharge ball to the lift 15 is not required, power consumption can be suppressed.

  Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 10B, when the ball guide member 61 moves upward, the contact detection sensor 67b is turned on, whereby the vibration exciter 90 vibrates the coin conveyor belt 21. Accordingly, the discharge ball that has been stopped on the coin conveyance surface moves on the coin conveyance surface by vibration. When the moving discharge ball reaches the ball discharge hole 52, the discharge ball passes through the ball discharge hole 52 and falls from the coin conveyor belt 21. In other words, the discharge balls on the coin transport surface can easily fall from the coin transport belt 21.

In the embodiment described above, the recovery rod 36 is the rod in the present invention, and the vibration exciter 90 is the vibration means in the present invention.
As mentioned above, although one Example of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said Example, As long as it belongs to the technical scope of this invention, a various form can be taken.

  For example, in the said embodiment, the conveyance apparatus in the case where the pachinko machine 11 and the platform machine 13 were installed in the gaming machine island 3 was shown. However, any device may be installed in place of the inter-machine 13 as long as it is a device that discharges the inserted coins. For example, a device that provides a game to a player when a game medal is inserted, such as a slot machine.

Here, the configuration of the transport device 201 when a pachinko machine and a slot machine are provided on the gaming machine island will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 16, on the gaming machine island 203 where a pachinko machine (not shown) and a slot machine (not shown) are provided, a ball that is installed below the pachinko machine and the slot machine and discharged from the pachinko machine. The transport device 201 that receives and transports the medals discharged from the slot machine, and the ball transported by the transport device 201 is lifted to the upper part of the gaming machine island 203. The ball lifting machine 211, a distribution bowl 212 that is installed above the pachinko machine and distributes the balls lifted by the ball lifting machine 211 to each pachinko machine, and the medals transported by the transport device 201 A medal lifting machine 213 that moves up to the top of 203, and a distribution belt conveyor 2 that is installed above the slot machine and distributes the medals lifted by the medal lifting machine 213 to each slot machine. 4, a ball / medal counter 215 that counts the number of balls and medals thrown from the slot, and a ball lifting belt conveyor 216 that lifts the balls thrown in the ball / medal counter 215 to the transfer device 201. And are attached.

  Among these, the conveying device 201 includes the coin conveying belt 21 having the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, the driving roller 222 and the driven roller 223 for moving the coin conveying belt 21, and the same as that of the first embodiment. The sphere conveyor belt 31, the driving roller 32, and the driven roller 33 having the configuration, the guide passage 234 that guides the discharged sphere conveyed by the sphere conveyor belt 31 to the ball lifting machine 211, and the operation of the entire conveyor apparatus 201. A control device (not shown) for controlling, a drive motor (not shown) for driving the drive roller 222, and a drive motor for driving the drive roller 32 are configured.

  Among these, the coin transport belt 21 is installed below the pachinko machine and the slot machine, and is stretched endlessly by the driving roller 222 and the driven roller 223 from the vicinity of one end in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 203 to the vicinity of the center. It is. As a result, in the coin transport belt 21, the upper portion of the coin transport belt 21 sandwiching the drive roller 222 and the driven roller 223 (coin belt forward path portion) by rotation of the drive roller 222 (counterclockwise in FIG. 1). ) Moves from right to left in FIG. 16, and the lower part (coin belt return path) moves from left to right in FIG.

  In the transport apparatus 201 configured as described above, the coin transport belt 21 in which the ball discharge hole 52 is formed moves so that the coin transport surface faces the coin transport direction. Further, the ball transport belt 31 receives the discharged balls that fall from the coin transport belt 21 through the ball discharge hole 52 and transports the received discharged balls to the guide passage 234.

  That is, the ball discharged from the pachinko machine and the medal discharged from the slot machine are first received by the coin conveyor belt 21. Then, the received medal moves toward the coin transport direction while being received by the coin transport surface, and is transported to the medal lifting machine 213. On the other hand, the sphere received by the coin transport belt 21 passes through the ball discharge hole 52 and falls from the coin transport belt 21. The dropped sphere is received by the sphere conveyor belt 31 and conveyed to the guide path 234. Further, the sphere received in the guide passage 234 is guided to the ball lifter 211.

  For this reason, the coin conveyor belt 21 and the ball conveyor belt 31 can be arranged side by side in the ball drop direction (that is, the vertical direction). That is, it is not necessary to arrange the coin transport belt 21 and the ball transport belt 31 side by side in the island width direction of the gaming machine island 203, so that an increase in the island width of the gaming machine island 203 can be suppressed.

  Moreover, in the said 2nd Embodiment, the vibration exciter 90 was provided with the relay, and after the contact detection sensor 67b was turned ON, what continued a vibration by energizing within predetermined vibration time was shown. However, the shaker 90 includes a control device (eg, a microcomputer) having a CPU, and a program for controlling the shaker 90 to vibrate for a predetermined vibration time when the contact detection sensor 67b is turned on is stored in the control device. You may comprise so that it may be performed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the transport apparatus 1. The figure which shows the top view and AA cross section of the conveyance belt 21 for coins. The top view and side view of the filter 26. FIG. The top view of the conveyance belt 31 for a sphere, and the figure which shows the AA cross section. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the transport apparatus 1. The flowchart which shows the discharge number list update process sequence. The flowchart which shows the belt movement control processing procedure for coins. The flowchart which shows the belt belt movement control processing procedure. The figure explaining the effect of a descent | fall inclination part and a descent | fall inclination part, and the effect of the dimple 72. FIG. The figure explaining the effect of the ball guide member 61. FIG. The figure explaining the structure of the ball | bowl / coin discharge number list | wrist 83a, and the update method. The block diagram which shows the whole structure of the conveying apparatus 1 in 2nd Embodiment. The top view and side view of the filter 26 in 2nd Embodiment. The side view which shows the structure of the vibration exciter 90. FIG. The block diagram showing the electric constitution of the conveying apparatus 1 in 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a transport apparatus 201. The figure explaining the effect at the time of providing the part which inclined in the 1st conveyance belt, and the effect at the time of providing a ball | bowl prevention means.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Conveyance apparatus, 3 ... Game machine island, 11 ... Pachinko machine, 12 ... Out-box, 12a ... Ball counter, 13 ... Intermediary machine, 13a ... Coin counter, 14 ... Safe, 15 ... Lifting machine, 16 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Distribution bowl, 21 ... Coin conveyance belt, 22 ... Drive roller, 22a ... Drive motor, 23 ... Driven roller, 24 ... Low position roller, 25 ... High position roller, 26 ... Filter, 31 ... Ball conveyance belt, 32 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Drive roller, 32a ... Drive motor, 33 ... Driven roller, 34 ... Guide passage, 36 ... Collection basket, 40 ... Control device, 41 ... Control part, 42 ... Motor drive circuit, 43 ... Communication part, 51 ... Belt body, 52 ... Sphere discharge hole, 52a ... Through hole, 52b ... Inclined portion, 53 ... Shielding convex portion, 54 ... Reinforcing wire, 61 ... Sphere guide member, 62 ... Supporting portion, 63 ... Lower restricting member, 64 ... Upper restricting member, 65 ... Biasing spring, 67 Lower regulating member, 67a ... main body, 67b ... contact detection sensor, 71 ... belt main body, 72 ... dimple, 73 ... shielding convex part, 74 ... reinforcing wire, 81 ... CPU, 82 ... ROM, 83 ... RAM, 83a ... ball -Coin discharge number list, 84 ... Input / output unit, 85 ... Bus, 90 ... Exciter, 91 ... Excitation body unit, 92 ... Vibration transmission unit, 93 ... Conductor, 201 ... Conveyance device, 203 ... Amusement machine island, 211: Ball lifting machine, 212: Distributing bowl, 213: Medal lifting machine, 214 ... Distribution belt conveyor, 215 ... Ball / medal counting machine, 216 ... Ball lifting belt conveyor, 222 ... Driving roller, 223 ... Driven roller 234 ... guide passage.

Claims (12)

A gaming machine that provides a game to a player by inserting a game ball that is a gaming medium, and a slot machine that provides a game to a player by inserting a coin that is a gaming medium or a coin that is a money member The game machine is installed on a gaming machine island where a machine that lends game media by being thrown in, and is discharged from the slot machine or the machine between the slot machine or the machine. A coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands that transports discharged coins that are coins,
A first conveying belt that receives and conveys the discharged balls and the discharged coins; a surface of the first conveying belt that receives the discharged balls and the discharged coins is defined as a first conveying surface; A ball discharge hole, which is a through hole through which the discharge ball can pass and the discharge coin cannot pass, is formed on a surface, and the first transport surface is set to collect the discharge coin Coin transport means for moving in a first predetermined transport direction;
First sphere conveying means for receiving a discharge ball falling through the sphere discharge hole from the first conveyance belt and conveying it to a predetermined conveyance position set for collecting the received discharge sphere;
A coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands, comprising: On the first transport surface, a funnel-shaped slope is formed at the hole edge of the ball discharge hole.
The coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands according to claim 1. The first transport belt is
The first transport surface is installed so as to include a portion inclined so as to become higher as it goes in the first predetermined transport direction, and a portion inclined so as to become lower as it goes in the first predetermined transport direction.
3. The coin / game ball transport apparatus for gaming machine islands according to claim 1 or 2. A guiding means for guiding the discharge ball on the first transport surface to the ball discharge hole;
The coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Vibrating means for vibrating the first conveyor belt;
The coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands according to any one of claims 1 to 4. Disposed from the first transport surface at a position higher than the width of the ejected coin and lower than the diameter of the ejected ball, allowing the ejected coin on the first transport surface to move in the first predetermined transport direction. And a ball blocking means for blocking movement of the discharge ball on the first transfer surface in the first predetermined transfer direction,
A coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The first ball conveying means includes
A second conveyor belt that receives and conveys the discharge balls; a surface of the second conveyor belt that receives the discharge balls is a second conveyance surface, and the discharge balls on the second conveyance surface are A second ball conveying means for moving the second conveying surface in a second predetermined conveying direction set to reach a predetermined conveying position;
A coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands according to any one of claims 1 to 6. A ball transport prohibiting means for prohibiting the operation of the second ball transport means when the coin transport means is inactive;
The coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands according to claim 7. The first ball conveying means includes
An inclined surface that becomes lower toward the predetermined transport position is formed.
A coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands according to any one of claims 1 to 6. A discharge coin counting means for counting the number of coins discharged from the slot machine or the inter-machine for each slot machine or the inter-machine;
When the number of coins to be ejected from the slot machine or the inter-machine is less than a predetermined coin count value set in advance based on the counting result by the coin coin counting means, the operation of the coin transport means is performed. A first coin transport prohibiting means for prohibiting;
A coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by comprising: A discharge coin counting means for counting the number of coins discharged from the slot machine or the inter-machine for each slot machine or the inter-machine;
When the total number of coins discharged from all of the slot machines or the inter-machines installed on the gaming machine island is less than a predetermined coin total value set in advance based on the counting result by the discharged coin counting means The second coin transport prohibiting means for prohibiting the operation of the coin transport means;
A coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by comprising: A discharge ball counting means for counting the number of discharged balls discharged from the gaming machine for each gaming machine;
When the total number of discharged balls discharged from all the gaming machines installed on the gaming machine island is less than a predetermined predetermined total ball number based on the counting result by the discharged ball counting means, the coin Third coin transport prohibiting means for prohibiting the operation of the transport means;
The coin / game ball transport device for gaming machine islands according to claim 1, comprising:

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