JP2008027047A - Coin-shaped member dispensing device, and coin-shaped member dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a controlled token dispensing device which can be commonly used for 25 mm tokens and 30 mm tokens, reduces the cost, and easily manages a game hall, to solve the problem that a token dispensing device having different control sections depending on the sizes of tokens increases the cost and is not preferable. <P>SOLUTION: This dispensing device dispenses coin-shaped members from a storage section one by one by rotation of a dispensing rotor, and has a detection section for detecting the passage of the dispensed coin-shaped members in a dispensing section. The control section has a program of setting the control section into an operation state of the coin-shaped member of the detected diameter based on the diameter data of the coin-shaped member detected by the detection section in the initial dispensing operation of the coin-shaped member, and automatically setting it so that subsequent regular dispensing operation of the coin-shaped member continues in the operation state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a feeding device and a coin-like member lending machine, in which a coin-like member housing portion is provided on a base member, and coin-like members of the housing portion are sent one by one by rotation of a feeding rotor disposed on the base member. In particular, the present invention relates to a technique for sharing control of a delivery device manufactured for each coin-like member having a different diameter.

  There is a delivery device that sends coin-like members such as coins and game medals stored in a storage container one by one by rotation of a rotor provided at the bottom of the storage container. As a typical configuration, a disc-shaped delivery rotor that is rotated in one direction by an electric motor device is provided at the bottom of a storage container (hopper) that stores coin-like members such as coins and game medals. A plurality of separation holes are arranged on the concentric circles at substantially equal intervals, and with the rotation of the delivery rotor, coin-like members sequentially enter the plurality of separation holes, The coin-like members are delivered one by one from the delivery portion formed on the side surface of the storage container by being pushed out one by one from the bottom of the separation hole in the circumferential direction of the delivery rotor. The sending unit is provided with counting means for counting the number of passing coin-like members to be sent. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

In this Patent Document 1, a synthetic resin base member is mounted on a metal base, and a plurality of separation holes into which coin-like members are separated one by one are formed on the base member. A rotor, a storage container (hopper) for storing coin-like members, and a counting means are attached. And, as a counting means, one end is pivotally attached to the frame by a support shaft, and the other end is rotatably attached to a count roller, and the side on which the count roller is attached is urged to the delivery rotor side by a spring member. The number of passing coin-shaped members sent out by the rotation of the rotating arm is counted by the coin-shaped member that passes through the counting roller while being pushed away. It is described that the counting means may be one that measures changes in electricity, magnetism, light, etc. caused by the coin-shaped member passing through the coin-shaped member delivery passage, but the specific configuration is disclosed. It has not been.
JP 2004-318595 A

  In such a coin-shaped member delivery device, as a counting means, a method of operating a switch by rotating the rotating arm as described above, or by using a coin-shaped member passing through the delivery path, such as electricity, magnetism, light, etc. There is a method for measuring changes in electricity, magnetism, light, etc. caused by blocking a passage.

  Although the present invention relates to the latter method, in a gaming machine in which a medal is used as a coin-shaped member, the medal used in the gaming machine is received from a medal lending machine attached to the gaming machine. Insert true money into the money insertion slot of the lending machine, but medal the number of medals (for example, 50 in the case of 1000 yen bills) corresponding to the amount of genuine money (eg 1000 yen bills) inserted by the player There are currently 25 medals and 30 mm medals that are paid out from the medal sending device in the lending machine to the tray on the front of the gaming machine. At the discretion of the administrator. For this reason, the manufacturer manufactures and delivers each medal delivery device having a structure and a control circuit adapted to a medal of a designated size.

  Thus, it is not preferable to produce a medal sending device having a different form for each medal size, which leads to an increase in cost. In view of this point, the present invention provides a medal sending device that can be shared between a 25 mm medal and a 30 mm medal so as to reduce costs and manage a game hall easily. In this case, for 25mm medals and 30mm medals, structural changes such as the size of the separation hole of the sending rotor of the medal sending device and the width of the medal feeding passage where the counting means are arranged are naturally necessary. It is. However, the operation control of the electric motor that drives the delivery rotor, the control of how many times the regular medal payout is performed after the medal remaining amount detection means in the storage container (hopper) detects the minimum remaining amount, The purpose is achieved by making it possible to share control means such as a control for performing forward rotation and reverse rotation of the delivery rotor in order to eliminate medal clogging.

  In the present invention, the coin-shaped member is a generic name including a circular coin, a circular medal, and the like, and in the following embodiment, the coin-shaped member is described as a circular medal. In addition, the thin piece is a general term including a prepaid card and other cards as well as a valuable card for receiving a supply of game medals as well as including a banknote, and the material of the banknote or the card is not limited. .

  A coin-shaped member feeding device according to a first aspect of the present invention provides a coin-shaped member accommodating portion on a base member, and a coin in the accommodating portion is formed by rotation of a feeding rotor formed on the base member by forming a plurality of separation holes. Each coin-shaped member is sent to the sending unit one by one, and in the coin-like member sending device provided with a detecting unit for detecting the passage of the sent coin-like member, the coin-like member sending device is in a power-on state. At the time of the coin-shaped member sending operation performed for the first time, based on the diameter data of the coin-shaped member detected by the detection unit, the control unit is set to the operation state of the coin-shaped member of the detected diameter, and thereafter The control unit is provided with a program for automatically setting so that the coin-like member feeding operation is continued in the operation state.

  The second invention is a coin-like member lending machine, wherein a housing portion for a coin-like member is provided on a base member, and a plurality of separation holes are formed to rotate the feeding rotor disposed on the base member. In the coin-like member lending machine incorporating the coin-like member sending device provided in the sending portion, the coin-like member is sent to the sending portion one by one and the detecting portion for detecting the passage of the sent coin-like member is provided. Based on the diameter data of the coin-shaped member detected by the detection unit, the control unit detects the diameter of the coin-shaped member having the detected diameter by the normal coin-shaped member sending operation that is first performed in the power-on state of the coin-shaped member sending device. The control unit is provided with a program for setting in an operating state and automatically setting so that a subsequent normal coin-shaped member feeding operation is continued in the operating state.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the coin-shaped member feeding device according to the first or second aspect, the detection unit is common to coin-shaped members having different diameters, and the control unit detects a coin of the detected diameter based on the diameter data. Items to be set in the operation state of the member are the rotational speed of the delivery rotor, the number of times of payout for the remaining amount when the storage amount of the storage portion is reduced below a predetermined amount, and during the delivery operation The number of times of forward and reverse rotations of the delivery rotor when a coin-like member is jammed.

  In the first invention, a large number of coin-shaped members having a predetermined diameter (for example, medals with a diameter of 25 mm) are passed through the detection unit in advance, and based on the diameter data of the coin-shaped member detected by the detection unit, the control unit detects the diameter of the detected diameter. Since it is set to the operation state of the coin-like member, it is not necessary to manufacture a control unit dedicated to 25mm medals or 30mm medals, and can be made a common control unit for each medal, so it is easy to manufacture and reduces cost. I can plan. Then, by actually putting a medal into the coin-shaped member accommodating portion and performing the sending operation in that state, the setting adapted to the medal can be automatically made, so the setting of the control portion becomes easy.

  In the second invention, a large number of coin-shaped members having a predetermined diameter (for example, medals with a diameter of 25 mm) are passed through the detection unit in advance, and based on the diameter data of the coin-shaped member detected by the detection unit, the control unit detects the diameter of the detected diameter. Since it is set to the operation state of the coin-like member, it is not necessary to manufacture a control unit dedicated to 25mm medals or 30mm medals, and can be made a common control unit for each medal, so it is easy to manufacture and reduces cost. I can plan. And if you actually put a medal in the coin-shaped member housing, and turn on the coin-shaped member lending machine in that state and open the store, it will automatically adapt to that medal by the sending operation performed by the first customer Since the setting can be made, the setting of the control unit is easy, and the management of the game hall is greatly simplified.

  In the third invention, since the detection unit is common to coin-shaped members having different diameters, it is not necessary to change the detection unit for each coin-shaped member delivery device having a different size, and the cost can be reduced. . Also, the items to set the control unit to the operation state of the coin-shaped member of the detected diameter based on the diameter data are the rotational speed of the delivery rotor and the remaining amount when the storage amount of the storage unit is reduced below a predetermined amount. This is the number of times the payout is performed, and the number of times the feeding rotor is rotated forward and backward when the coin-like member is jammed during the feeding operation, so that an appropriate operation can be obtained according to the size of the coin-like member. Is preferable.

  The coin-shaped member feeding device according to the present invention has a coin-shaped member accommodating portion provided on a base member, and a plurality of separating holes are formed to rotate the feeding rotor disposed on the base member, thereby forming a coin-shaped member in the accommodating portion. In the coin-shaped member sending apparatus having the detecting unit for sending the members one by one to the sending unit and detecting the passage of the sent coin-like member in the sending unit, the coin-like member sending operation is performed first. Based on the diameter data of the coin-shaped member detected by the detection unit, the control unit is set to the operation state of the coin-shaped member of the detected diameter so that the subsequent normal coin-shaped member sending operation continues in the operation state. A program for automatically setting is provided in the control unit, and an embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

  Next, an embodiment of the present invention in which a thin piece is represented by a representative banknote and a coin-like member is a circular game medal will be described. FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a coin-shaped member feeding device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view with a cover of a feeding portion of the coin-shaped member feeding device according to the present invention removed, and FIG. 3 is a coin-shaped member according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the feeding rotor and the rotor guide ring of the coin-shaped member feeding device according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is the separation of the feeding rotor according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a detection unit according to the present invention, FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a detection position of the detection unit according to the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a medal passing through the detection unit according to the present invention. FIG. 9 is a front view showing a state in which a medal lending machine equipped with a coin-shaped member feeding device according to the present invention and a gaming machine are installed, and FIG. It is a front perspective view of the medal rental machine of the form.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 1 denotes a gaming machine, which indicates a gaming machine called a slot machine, a throttle machine, or a pachislot machine. Since a predetermined medal is used in the gaming machine 1, the three reels 1C are operated by operating the start lever 1A in a state where at least one medal 100 necessary for the game is inserted in the medal insertion slot 25. Rotate. In this state, the reels 1C are sequentially stopped by checking the timing and pressing the three stop buttons 1B, and a winning medal is selected from the payout slot according to the combination of symbols and numbers of each reel 1C displayed on the surface. This is a mechanism for paying out the tray 1D.

  The gaming machine 1 is provided with a medal lending machine MK which is a lending machine for coin-like members. The medal lending machine MK includes a flake identification device 110 having a function of discriminating flakes such as bills and valuable cards inserted from the front insertion slot 111 in order to receive the supply of the gaming medal 100, and a predetermined number of pieces by inserting the flakes. The medal sending device 2 for paying out the medal 100, the electrical unit 60, and the like are housed. The medal lending machine MK may be simply referred to as a lending machine, and is also referred to as an inter-table lending machine because it is disposed between the gaming machines 1. Since each gaming machine 1 is provided with a rental machine MK and this form forms a single island, this is referred to as an island of gaming machines, a gaming island. The gaming machine 1 and the rental machine MK are formed at substantially the same height in order to adjust the appearance of the gaming island.

  As a valuable card, a monetary value is stored in a card such as a prepaid card or other cards, and the medal 100 is supplied from the medal lending machine MK by inserting this card into the slice identification device 110. Is something that can be done. Further, in the medal lending machine MK, a thin piece identifying device 110 for identifying the authenticity of a bill, which is one of the thin pieces, is arranged at the upper part of the medal lending machine MK, and a medal sending device 2 as a coin-like member sending device is arranged at the lower part. And the electrical equipment part 60 is arrange | positioned in the intermediate part.

  The authenticity of the bill inserted from the slice insertion slot 111 is determined by the slice identification device 110, and the identified authentic bill is transferred to the island of the gaming device by a slice transport device (not shown) installed on the back side of the gaming island. It is a mechanism to be transported to a safe provided at the end. The banknote applicable to the medal lending machine MK may be, for example, one or a plurality of banknotes of 2000 yen, 5000 yen, and 10000 yen other than 1000 yen.

  The electrical component unit 60 is electrically connected to the slice identification device 110, the medal delivery device 2, and the like. For this reason, the electrical equipment section 60 controls the reading of the amount data of the genuine banknote inserted through the banknote insertion slot 111 and identified by the thin piece identification device 110, and the amount data on the display provided on the front plate of the medal lending machine MK. Control for displaying, control for paying out a predetermined number of medals from the medal sending device 2 corresponding to the amount of the genuine bill (in the embodiment, paying out 50 medals for 1000 yen as a minimum purchase unit), Control by displaying the number of medals to be paid out from the medal sending device 2 on a display provided on the front surface of the medal lending machine MK, and detection by a remaining amount detection unit ES for detecting a shortage state of medals stored in the storage container (hopper) 5P Control for notifying on a display unit such as an LED, etc., and controlling the number of regular medals to be paid after that when the remaining amount detecting unit ES detects the minimum remaining amount as will be described later. A controller 61 having a.

  The medal sending device 2 which is a coin-like member sending device has the following configuration. That is, on the synthetic resin base member 4, a synthetic resin storage container (hopper) 5 </ b> P that forms the accommodating portion 5 for accommodating the medal 100 that is a circular coin-shaped member is attached to the base member 4. It is detachably attached by a screw or a locking device. The storage container (hopper) 5P has openings 5A and 5B on the upper surface and the lower surface, respectively, and the lower surface opening 5B has a substantially circular shape. A synthetic resin delivery rotor 7 having a plurality of separation holes 10 formed thereon is disposed on the base member 4 corresponding to the lower surface opening 5B, and the delivery rotor 7 is mounted on the rear side of the base member 4. 8 is attached to the tip of the rotating shaft 9 that penetrates the upper wall of the base member 4.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the delivery rotor 7 attached to the tip of the rotary shaft 9 is disposed in a circular recess 4A formed on the upper surface of the base member 4, and the electric motor is in a state slightly separated from the surface of the recess 4A. The apparatus 8 is configured to rotate in the R direction as shown in FIG. A rotor guide ring 20 is provided so as to cover the peripheral surface and the peripheral surface of the upper surface of the delivery rotor 7 with a slight gap between the peripheral surface and the peripheral surface of the upper surface of the transmission rotor 7. The rotor guide ring 20 is mounted on a circular step portion 4B formed at a position higher than the recess 4A so as to surround the recess 4A, and a predetermined position of the base member 4 by a locking claw portion 21 formed on the base member 4. Retained. The rotor guide ring 20 forms a ring portion 20B that is inclined so as to spread outward from the ring portion 20A that covers the peripheral edge of the upper surface of the delivery rotor 7, and as shown in FIG. 4, the storage container (hopper) 5P A storage container (hopper) 5P is attached to the base member 4 so that the circular lower surface opening 5B extends along the ring portions 20A and 20B.

  With the delivery rotor 7 attached to the tip of the rotating shaft 9 and disposed in the recess 4A, the notches 20C formed at a plurality of positions on the peripheral edge of the rotor guide ring 20 are made to correspond to the respective locking claws 21. The rotor guide ring 20 is placed on the stepped portion 4B, and in this state, the rotor guide ring 20 is rotated clockwise in FIGS. 2 and 3, as shown in FIGS. The rotor guide ring 20 sinks into the lower side of the locking claw portion 21 and is locked, and the end portion 20D of the rotor guide ring 20 comes into contact with the stopper step portion 22 formed on the base member 4, so that the rotor guide ring 20 is held in place.

  The delivery rotor 7 has a disk shape in which a plurality of separation holes 10 (the illustrated one has six separation holes, but is not limited thereto) are arranged at substantially equal intervals on a concentric circle. A guide surface 11 having a slightly larger diameter than the diameter of the medal 100 and penetrating the delivery rotor 7 up and down in a circular shape, and having a downwardly downwardly inclined inclined guide surface 11 formed on the upper peripheral edge on the downstream side in the rotation direction R is formed. Yes. Further, an open outlet 10A that faces the periphery of the delivery rotor is formed at the lower peripheral edge of each separation hole 10, and the delivery rotor is arranged downstream of the open outlet 10A in the rotational direction R as shown in FIG. A streamlined extrusion wall 12 extending to the peripheral edge of 7 is formed. With this configuration, the medal 100 of the storage container (hopper) 5P is separated one by one and sequentially enters the separation hole 10 by the rotation of the sending rotor 7, and the medal 100 that has entered the bottom of the separating hole 10 is sent to the sending rotor 7. In this mechanism, the upper surface of the base member 4 is slid along the upper surface of the base member 4 and is pushed out of the delivery rotor 7 from the open outlet 10 </ b> A toward the delivery portion 13 formed on the upper surface of the base member 4. Thus, one medal 100 is sent out from each separation hole 10 with the rotation of the sending rotor 7.

  The medal 100 pushed out of the sending rotor 7 with the rotation of the sending rotor 7 enters the sending unit 13 constituting the coin-shaped member passage. At the entrance of the delivery unit 13, the fixed side wall 15 and the movable body 16 are located at a position slightly smaller than the diameter of the medal 100 at a position where the medal 100 pushed outward from the delivery rotor 7 first passes. Is arranged. The medal 100 that has entered the bottom of the separation hole 10 along with the rotation of the delivery rotor 7 moves to the outside of the delivery rotor 7 from the opening 10A, contacts the inclined surface 15B on the inner side of the fixed side wall 15, and is pushed out. 12 is pushed and rotated and pushed out.

  The medal 100 pushed out of the sending rotor 7 in this way enters the sending unit 13 and passes through the sending unit 13 in the Y1 direction as shown in FIG. It is sent out from the outlet 14. As shown in FIG. 9, the medal 100 delivered from the delivery port 14 is supplied to the tray 1D provided on the front surface of the gaming machine 1 through the nozzle 2N, and can be used for the next game by the player. The passage width T <b> 1 of the delivery unit 13 is formed by an interval between the straight part 15 </ b> A at the tip of the fixed side wall 15 and the fixed side wall 26 arranged in parallel to the fixed side wall 15 on the opposite side. The passage width T1 is set to a dimension slightly larger than the diameter of the medal 100 so that the medal 100 can move smoothly.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the fixed side wall 15 is provided at a position where the medal 100 delivered from the delivery rotor 7 abuts on the front side in the rotational direction (R) of the delivery rotor 7 on the entrance side of the delivery unit 13. In consideration of wear resistance, it is made of metal, and in the embodiment, it is made of stainless steel. The movable body 16 is positioned in front of the fixed side wall 15 in the rotational direction (R) of the delivery rotor 7 and is provided in a state of being biased by a spring 17 so as to be pressed and operated by the medal 100. The movable body 16 is composed of a cylindrical body 16A rotatably attached to a shaft 19A provided upright on an L-shaped movable arm 19, and the movable arm 19 is a shaft having a central portion rotatable on the lower side of the base member 4. 18, and the other end is pulled by the pulling force of the return action spring 17, and in this state, the movable body 16 maintains a space slightly smaller than the diameter of the medal 100 between the fixed side wall 15. is doing.

  Therefore, when the medal 100 pushed out of the delivery rotor 7 reaches between the fixed side wall 15 and the movable body 16, the movable body 16 is pulled by the spring 17 as shown by the dotted line in FIG. When the diameter part of the medal 100 passes, the movable body 16 returns by the pulling force of the spring 17 and is blown off in the direction of the delivery port 14. The bounced medal 100 passes through the detection unit 23 arranged so as to face the sending unit 13 from the fixed side wall 26 side and is sent out from the sending port 14.

  The detection unit 23 has an optical sensor configuration including a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit as a detection sensor. In the embodiment, the light emitting unit 24A and the light receiving unit 25A, and the light emitting unit 24B and the light receiving unit 25B are configured with two sets of optical sensors. When the medal 100 passes through the detecting unit 23, the light emitting unit 24A to the light receiving unit 25A. By blocking the light path reaching the light path or the light path reaching the light receiving part 25B from the light emitting part 24B, the number of passing medals 100 is counted by a counting part (not shown) of the control part 61 provided in the electrical equipment part 60. It is a mechanism to do.

  The detection position in the detection unit 23 is a detection at a part out of the diameter of the medal 100. That is, even when the medals 100 sent out from the sending rotor 7 are sent out in succession, each light from the light emitting parts 24A, 24B to the light receiving parts 25A, 25B is able to be detected one by one. The passage is detected not at the diameter part of the medal 100 to be sent, but at a position deviating from the diameter part, that is, at a part shorter than the diameter of the medal 100. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, light from the light emitting portion 24A to the light receiving portion 25A is detected so as to be detected at positions AH and BH close to the fixed side wall 26 from the diameter portion passing through the center CH of the circular medal 100, respectively. A path and a light path from the light emitting unit 24B to the light receiving unit 25B are defined.

  The detection unit 23 may include only one light emitting unit 24A and one light receiving unit 25A. However, the detection unit 23 includes two sets of the light emitting unit 24A and the light receiving unit 25A, and the light emitting unit 24B and the light receiving unit 25B. In this way, the detection accuracy is improved and mischief measures are taken. That is, the detection pulse when the medal 100 passes in the Y1 direction is adopted by the control unit 61 as a count signal, and the detection pulse when the medal 100 is pushed in the direction opposite to the Y1 direction due to mischief is not adopted. This prevents miscounting by mischief. Instead of the method of detecting the detection unit 23 based on such a change in the amount of received light, a change in the amount of electricity (capacitance, induced electromotive force, frequency, etc.) generated by the medal 100 passing, or a change in the amount of magnetic force, etc. It may be one that measures.

  The parts of the sending unit 13 and the detecting unit 23 are covered with a cover 32 made of synthetic resin. The cover 32 is engaged with a locking portion 33 formed on the upper surface of the base member 4 so as to sink into the lower side, and the other end is screwed to the base member 4 with a screw 34. A distance T2 between the lower surface 32A of the cover 32 and the upper surface 13A of the sending unit 13 is slightly larger than the thickness T0 of the medal 100. Thus, the interval T1 between the fixed side wall 15 and the fixed side wall 26 (interval in the diameter direction of the medal 100) and the interval T2 between the lower surface 32A of the cover 32 and the upper surface 13A of the sending unit 13 (interval in the thickness direction of the medal 100). ) Is the size of the coin-shaped member passage of the delivery unit 13. The outlet of the coin-shaped member passage of the sending unit 13 becomes the sending port 14 of the medal 100.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the detection unit 23, as shown in FIG. 6, corrects the combination position of the light emitting unit 24 </ b> A and the light receiving unit 25 </ b> A and the combination position of the light emitting unit 24 </ b> B and the light receiving unit 25 </ b> B. 25B are housed in a synthetic resin holder 23A. The synthetic resin holder 23A is substantially U-shaped, and the upper side (upstream side) and the lower side (downstream side) so that the light emitting parts 24A and 24B face the delivery part 13 from the upper side 23A1 which is one side thereof. The lower side 23A2, which is the other side of the synthetic resin holder 23A that opposes the upper side 23A1, is placed on the upper side (upstream side) so that the light receiving units 25A and 25B face the sending unit 13 from below. Built in on the lower (downstream) side. And each light path part from light-emitting part 24A, 24B of synthetic resin holder 23A to light-receiving part 25A, 25B forms the transparent part 23B comprised with the transparent material.

  The synthetic resin holder 23A has a configuration in which the light emitting portions 24A, 24B and the light receiving portions 25A, 25B are embedded by synthetic resin molding, and the synthetic resin holder 23A is configured by a case, and the light emitting portions 24A, 24A, 24B and the light receiving portions 25A and 25B may be housed and sealed. In the present invention, both the case of the structure embedded by synthetic resin molding and the case structure are referred to as a synthetic resin holder 23A.

  For example, there is a game medal as a coin-like member 100 used in a gaming machine 1 called a slot machine or a pachislot machine in a game hall such as a pachinko parlor. The game medal 100 generally has a diameter of 25 mm and a diameter of 30 mm, and the medal sending device 2 has a coin-like member passage of the sending unit 13 in the structure so as to correspond to the 25 mm medal and the 30 mm medal, respectively. Sizes T1 and T2, and a 25 mm medal sending device 2 and a 30 mm medal sending device 2 each employing a sending rotor 7 of a separation hole 10 having a size corresponding thereto are required.

Conventionally, the detection unit 23 is also provided with light-emitting units 24A and 24B and light-receiving units 25A and 25B manufactured for 25mm medals and 30mm medals, and the control unit 61 provided in the electrical unit 60 is also used for 25mm medals. And 30 mm medals are produced separately.

  In the present invention, in the medal sending device 2 manufactured for the 25 mm medal and the 30 mm medal, the detection unit 23 is also used for the 25 mm medal and the 30 mm medal in order to reduce the cost by sharing the control method. In common, the light emitting units 24A and 24B and the light receiving units 25A and 25B have a common specification, and the same ones are used. The control unit 61 is also shared for 25 mm medals and 30 mm medals.

  Therefore, in FIG. 7, the light emitting units 24A and 24B and the light receiving units 25A and 25B are shifted from the diameter portion passing through the center CH of the medal 100 toward the fixed side wall 26 in both the 25 mm medal 100 and the 30 mm medal 100. The 25 mm medal 100 and the 30 mm medal 100 are defined so as to define an optical path from the light emitting unit 24A to the light receiving unit 25A and an optical path from the light emitting unit 24B to the light receiving unit 25B so as to detect at substantially the same positions AH and BH, respectively. A common detection unit 23 is configured.

  Then, if the time during which the light path reaching the light receiving part 25A from the light emitting part 24A or the light path reaching the light receiving part 25B from the light emitting part 24B is blocked by the passing medal 100 is measured, the 25 mm medal 100 or the 30 mm medal 100 I understand. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 61 generates a rectangular pulse P25 generated by the time T25 when the optical path is blocked by the 25 mm medal 100 and a rectangular pulse P30 of the time T30 blocked by the 30 mm medal 100, The time T25 is measured by counting the number of clock pulses in the rectangular pulse P25 by ANDing the rectangular pulse P25 and the clock pulse. Further, the time T30 is measured by counting the number of clock pulses in the rectangular pulse P30 by ANDing the rectangular pulse P30 and the clock pulse. Thus, it can be determined whether the 25 mm medal 100 or the 30 mm medal 100 is used.

  As described above, the control unit 61 that is shared for the 25 mm medal and the 30 mm medal is a control method that determines the size of the medal 100 based on the difference in the passing time during which the medal 100 passes through the detection unit 23. In this state, the coin-shaped member delivery device 2 uses the diameter data of the coin-like member 100 detected by the detection unit 23 during the first coin-like member delivery operation, and controls the control unit 61 to detect the coin-like member having the detected diameter. The control unit 61 is provided with a program that sets the operation state to 100 and automatically sets the subsequent normal coin-like member sending operation to continue in that operation state. That is, as described above, the medal sending device 2 having a structure made for a 25 mm medal is incorporated in the medal lending machine MK and installed in the game hall. Then, the 25 mm medal is stored in the storage container (hopper) 5P, and the control is performed based on the diameter data of the 25 mm medal 100 detected by the detecting unit 23 by the first 25 mm medal sending operation with the power switch turned on. The control unit 61 includes a program for setting the unit 61 to the detected operation state of the 25 mm medal 100 and automatically setting so that the subsequent normal 25 mm medal sending operation is continued in the operation state.

  In the amusement hall, the power source of each rental machine MK including the medal sending device 2 is turned off after closing every day, and the power source of each rental machine MK including the medal sending device 2 is turned ON on the opening day. The medal delivery device 2 operates on the basis of the amount data of the genuine banknote identified by the flake identification device 110 when the player inserts a 1000-yen bill into the bill insertion slot 111 on each day of opening of the game hall. Then, a predetermined number of 50 medals 100 are sent from the sending unit 13 through the detection unit 23, and the medals 100 are paid out from the front surface of the rental machine MK to the medal tray 1D of the gaming machine 1 through the nozzle 2N. It is.

  In the present invention, attention is paid to the fact that the power of each lending machine MK including the medal sending device 2 is turned off after closing and the power of each lending machine MK including the medal sending device 2 is turned on before opening the store. When the first player after opening the store inserts a 1000 yen bill into the bill insertion slot 111, the medal delivery device 2 operates so as to perform a regular coin-like member delivery operation. A program for collecting diameter data of each of the 50 medals 100 and calculating an average value thereof is prepared in the control unit 61 in advance by using the medal 100 passing through the detection unit 23. That is, the average value calculated by the 25 mm medal 100 passing through the detection unit 23 is set as the time T25, and this is stored in the memory of the control unit 61 as a reference value.

Based on this reference value, the control unit 61 clogs when a clogging occurs in the counting unit, the medal remaining amount detection control operation (empty control unit) in the storage container (hopper) 5P, and the medal sending operation. The rotational speed of the sending rotor 7 and the like in the canceling operation and the regular medal sending operation are automatically preset to a state of operating for the 25 mm medal .

  In this set state, the medal delivery device 2 operates on the basis of the money amount data of the genuine bill identified by the thin piece identifying device 110 by inserting a 1000 yen bill into the bill insertion slot 111 after the next player. A predetermined number of 50 medals 100 are sent from the sending unit 13 through the detecting unit 23, and the medals 100 are paid out to the medal tray 1D of the gaming machine 1 from the front of the rental machine MK through the nozzle 2N. . Also in this case, the light path reaching the light receiving part 25A from the light emitting part 24A or the light path reaching the light receiving part 25B from the light emitting part 24B is blocked by the passing medal 100, thereby reducing the number of coin-shaped members 100 passing through. Counting is performed by a counting unit (not shown) of the control unit 61 provided in the electrical unit 60.

  In this way, the control unit 61 is preset in a state of operating for a 25 mm medal. This preset is preset so that the delivery rotor 7 rotates at a predetermined rotational speed. Further, when the 25mm medal 100 is paid out by the rotation, and the storage amount of the 25mm medal stored in the storage container (hopper) 5P is reduced below a predetermined amount, that is, from the remaining amount detection unit ES shown in FIG. When the storage amount decreases, the number of payouts for the remaining amount is preset. That is, the empty control unit of the control unit 61 sends the predetermined number (50 in the embodiment) of the medal 100 from the medal sending device 2 every time a 1000 yen bill is inserted. (For example, 3 times each for 50 sheets). Furthermore, when the medal 100 is jammed during the payout operation of the 25 mm medal 100, the number of forward rotation and reverse rotation of the delivery rotor 7 is preset.

  A medal remaining amount detection control unit (empty control unit) that detects the remaining amount of medals in the storage container (hopper) 5P is provided in the control unit 61. For example, a conductive member 30 and a remaining amount detection unit ES, which will be described later, are interposed between them. If the stored medal is short-circuited to the energized state, it is determined that a predetermined amount or more of medals are stored, and the medal storage amount is reduced so that the medal is between the conductive member 30 and the remaining amount detection unit ES. When there is no short circuit due to 100 and the energized state is cut off, it is determined that the storage capacity is insufficient.

  When the 25-mm medal 100 is paid out by the rotation of the delivery rotor 7 and the 25-mm medal stored in the storage container (hopper) 5P decreases and the storage amount is lower than the remaining amount detection unit ES, the remaining amount is determined. Since the number of times of sending out by the rotation of the sending rotor 7 is the predetermined number of times P25 (for example, three times) as described above, when the sending operation for the predetermined number of times P25 (for example, three times) is completed, the medal is sent out. The apparatus 2 is set to the operation stop state, and the game machine 1 is set to the game stop state. In order to return to the normal operation state from the stopped state, if a sufficient amount of medals 100 higher than the remaining amount detection unit ES is replenished in the storage container (hopper) 5P, the next customer again The insertion starts from the preset state as described above.

  As described above, during the payout operation of the 25 mm medal 100, the medals bridge in the storage container (hopper) 5P, and a clogging phenomenon occurs. When the medal 100 is jammed, the number of forward and reverse rotations of the delivery rotor 7 is preset to a predetermined number. In the case of the 25 mm medal 100, in the embodiment, this number is preset to 3 times. If the time during which the subsequent medal 100 passes through the detection unit 23 after the preceding medal 100 passes through the detection unit 23 in the regular medal sending operation is defined as TX, if a medal clogging occurs, it is considerably longer than this time TX. Therefore, if the state is discriminated by the discriminating means of the control unit 61, medal clogging can be detected. When this medal clogging is detected, the sending rotor 7 performs the normal rotation and the reverse rotation three times, and then starts the remaining regular sending operation. At this time, if a medal jam is detected in the same manner as described above, the medal sending operation is stopped, and a warning light on the front of the lending machine MK is turned on to notify the medal jam.

  As described above, the coin-shaped member sending device 2 uses the diameter data of the predetermined number of coin-like members 100 detected by the detecting unit 23 during the first coin-like member sending operation to make the control unit 61 have the detected diameter. The control unit 61 is provided with a program for automatically setting the coin-shaped member 100 to be set in the operating state and automatically setting the subsequent normal coin-shaped member sending operation in that operating state.

  In order to make effective use of this feature, paying attention to the fact that each amusement machine MK is turned off and then turned on before the store opens every day at the game hall, each time the store opens, the player enters the bill insertion slot 111. In the sending operation of the regular coin-like member 100 performed by inserting a regular bill (1000 yen bill in the above), the coin-shaped member detected by the detection unit 23 by the sending operation performed at the beginning (at the start) Based on the diameter data of 100, the control unit 61 is automatically set to the operation state of the coin-shaped member 100 of the detected diameter, and the subsequent sending operation of the regular coin-shaped member 100 is continued in the set operation state. To do.

  As described above, a predetermined number of 25 mm medals in advance (50 is used in the above example, but the number is not limited thereto, and the predetermined number may be arbitrarily set to 40, 100, etc.). Passing and storing the reference value and automatically setting the control unit 61 to operate for a 25 mm medal allows the player who is the first customer on the opening date to enter the bill insertion slot 111 with a regular bill ( In the above, the operation is performed by the operation of sending out the regular coin-shaped member 100 performed by inserting a 1000-yen bill), so that it is unnecessary for the manager of the game hall to operate and set the medal delivery device 2 every day before opening the store. This is a great advantage for management.

  In addition, for every day of opening of the amusement hall, the manager of the amusement hall was identified by the slice identification device 110 by inserting a 1000 yen bill into the bill insertion slot 111 of each lending machine MK before the opening every day. Based on the amount data of the genuine banknote, the medal sending device 2 operates to send a predetermined number of 50 medals 100 from the sending unit 13 through the detecting unit 23, and the data detected by the detecting unit 23 at this time May be automatically set to a state in which the control unit 61 operates for a 25 mm medal, but when the player who is the first customer inserts a regular bill into the bill insertion slot 111 as described above. In comparison, it is troublesome.

  The 30 mm medal 100 is the same as that of the 25 mm medal. That is, the medal delivery device 2 is structurally configured so as to correspond to the 30 mm medal, such as the sizes T1 and T2 of the coin-shaped member passage of the delivery unit 13 and the delivery rotor 7 of the separation hole 10 having a size corresponding thereto. A 30 mm medal 100 manufactured is used. Then, with the lending machine MK in which the medal sending device 2 is incorporated installed in the game hall, the first player on the opening day inserts a 1000 yen bill into the bill insertion slot 111, so that the medal sending device 2 is operated and a predetermined number of 50 medals 100 pass through the detection unit 23, and the diameter data of the 50 medals 100 is collected and a program for calculating the average value is controlled. The unit 61 is provided in advance. That is, the average value calculated by the 30 mm medal 100 passing through the detection unit 23 is set as the time T30, and this is stored in the memory of the control unit 61 as a reference value.

  Based on this reference value, the control unit 61 clogs when clogging occurs in the counting unit, the medal remaining amount detection control operation (empty control unit) in the storage container (hopper) 5P, and the medal sending operation. The rotational speed of the sending rotor 7 and the like in the canceling operation and the regular medal sending operation are automatically preset to a state of operating for a 30 mm medal.

  In this preset state, after the next player inserts a 1000 yen bill into the bill insertion slot 111, the medal sending device 2 operates based on the money amount data of the genuine bill identified by the slice identifying device 110. A predetermined number of 50 medals 100 are sent from the sending unit 13 through the detecting unit 23, and the medals 100 are paid out to the medal tray 1D of the gaming machine 1 from the front of the rental machine MK through the nozzle 2N. . Also in this case, the light path reaching the light receiving part 25A from the light emitting part 24A or the light path reaching the light receiving part 25B from the light emitting part 24B is blocked by the passing medal 100, thereby reducing the number of coin-shaped members 100 passing through. Counting is performed by a counting unit (not shown) of the control unit 61 provided in the electrical unit 60.

  In this way, the control unit 61 is preset in a state of operating for a 30 mm medal. This preset is preset so that the delivery rotor 7 rotates at a predetermined rotational speed. Further, when the 30 mm medal 100 is paid out by the rotation and the 30 mm medal stored in the storage container (hopper) 5P is reduced, the storage amount is lower than the remaining amount detection unit ES shown in FIG. The number of payouts for the remaining amount is preset. Furthermore, when the medal 100 is jammed during the payout operation of the 30 mm medal 100, the number of times of normal rotation and reverse rotation of the delivery rotor 7 is preset.

  In the coin-shaped member feeding device 2 that employs a storage container (hopper) 5P having the same size as a 25 mm medal, the number of sheets stored in the storage container (hopper) 5P is smaller than the number of 25 mm medals 100 stored. Thus, when the control unit 61 is preset so as to operate for 30 mm medals, the 30 mm medals 100 are paid out by the rotation of the sending rotor 7, and the storage amount of the 25 mm medals stored in the storage container (hopper) 5P is stored. When the storage amount is lower than the predetermined amount, that is, when the 30 mm medal stored in the storage container (hopper) 5P decreases and the storage amount is lower than the remaining amount detection unit ES shown in FIG. The number of times of payout is preset. In other words, the empty control unit of the control unit 61 sends out a predetermined number (50 in the embodiment) of medals 100 from the medal sending device 2 every time a 1000 yen bill is inserted. The predetermined number of times P30 (for example, twice for every 50 sheets) is set to be smaller than that of the object.

  When the 30-mm medal 100 is paid out by the rotation of the delivery rotor 7 and the 30-mm medal stored in the storage container (hopper) 5P decreases and the storage amount is lower than the remaining amount detection unit ES, the remaining amount Since the number of times of sending out by the rotation of the sending rotor 7 is the predetermined number of times P30 (for example, twice) as described above, when the sending operation for the predetermined number of times P30 (for example, twice) is completed, the medal is sent out. The apparatus 2 is set to the operation stop state, and the game machine 1 is set to the game stop state. In order to return to the normal operation state from the stopped state, if a sufficient amount of medals 100 higher than the remaining amount detection unit ES is replenished in the storage container (hopper) 5P, the next customer again The insertion starts from the preset state as described above.

  As described above, during the payout operation of the 30 mm medal 100, the number of times of normal rotation and reverse rotation of the delivery rotor 7 when the medal 100 is jammed is preset to a predetermined number. In the case of the 30 mm medal 100, since the diameter is larger than that of the 25 mm medal 100, the medals are bridged in the storage container (hopper) 5P, and a clogging phenomenon is likely to occur. For this reason, in the embodiment, the number of times the sending rotor 7 performs forward rotation and reverse rotation is larger than that in the case of the 25 mm medal 100 and is preset to 5 times. If the time during which the subsequent medal 100 passes through the detection unit 23 after the preceding medal 100 passes through the detection unit 23 in the regular medal sending operation is defined as TX, if a medal clogging occurs, it is considerably longer than this time TX. Therefore, if the state is discriminated by the discriminating means of the control unit 61, medal clogging can be detected. When the medal clogging is detected, the sending rotor 7 performs normal rotation and reverse rotation five times, and then starts the remaining regular sending operation. At this time, if a medal jam is detected in the same manner as described above, the medal sending operation is stopped, and a warning light on the front of the lending machine MK is turned on to notify the medal jam.

  As described above, the coin-like member sending device 2 uses the diameter data of the coin-like member 100 detected by the detecting unit 23 during the first coin-like member sending operation, and the control unit 61 detects the coin-like member having the detected diameter. The control unit 61 is provided with a program for automatically setting so that a normal coin-like member sending operation after that is set to 100 operating states and continuing in that operating state.

  In order to make effective use of this feature, paying attention to the fact that each amusement machine MK is turned off and then turned on before the store opens every day at the game hall, each time the store opens, the player enters the bill insertion slot 111. Diameter data of the coin-shaped member 100 detected by the detection unit 23 in the sending operation of the regular coin-shaped member 100 performed by inserting a regular bill (1000 yen bill in the above). Based on the above, the control unit 61 is automatically set to the operation state of the coin-shaped member 100 with the detected diameter, and the subsequent feeding operation of the regular coin-shaped member 100 is continued in the set operation state. .

  As described above, a predetermined number of 30 mm medals in advance (50 is used in the above example, but the number is not limited to this, and the predetermined number may be arbitrarily set to 40, 100, etc.). Passing and storing the reference value and automatically setting the controller 61 to operate for a 30 mm medal allows a player who is the first customer on the opening date to enter the bill insertion slot 111 with a regular bill ( In the above, the operation is performed by the operation of sending out the regular coin-shaped member 100 performed by inserting a 1000-yen bill), so that it is unnecessary for the manager of the game hall to operate and set the medal delivery device 2 every day before opening the store. This is a great advantage for management.

  In addition, for every day of opening of the amusement hall, the manager of the amusement hall was identified by the slice identification device 110 by inserting a 1000 yen bill into the bill insertion slot 111 of each lending machine MK before the opening every day. Based on the amount data of the genuine banknote, the medal sending device 2 operates to send a predetermined number of 50 medals 100 from the sending unit 13 through the detecting unit 23, and the data detected by the detecting unit 23 at this time May be automatically set to a state in which the control unit 61 operates for a 30 mm medal, but when a player who is the first customer inserts a regular bill into the bill insertion slot 111 as described above. In comparison, it is troublesome.

  In order to remove static electricity, the synthetic resin holder 23A is a conductive synthetic resin holder, and this holder 23A is attached to the metal part of the rental machine MK on the ground side with a ground wire, so that even if the holder 23A is charged with static electricity, The light emitting units 24A and 24B or the light receiving units 25A and 25B are prevented from being adversely affected thereby.

  Further, in order to allow the static electricity generated by the coin-like member 100 to escape, the fixed side wall 15 and the fixed side wall 26 are made of conductive members, and these are made of conductive stainless steel. The base of the fixed side wall 26 is attached to the upper surface of the base member 4 with screws 36 and 35. At least one of the screws 36 and 35 is a conductive screw, and the fixed side wall 26 is electrically connected to the metal part of the rental machine MK on the ground side by a configuration in which the screw 36 and 35 are connected to the metal part of the rental machine MK with a ground wire. Connected. Further, as a configuration for releasing static electricity from the coin-like member 100, the fixed side wall 15 is attached to the upper surface of the base member 4 by the conductive screw 31, and the static electricity is also released from the fixed side wall 15. Furthermore, as a configuration for releasing the static electricity generated by the coin-shaped member 100, the conductive member 30 that releases the static electricity is fixed on the base member 4 at a position where the coin-shaped member 100 that has entered the separation hole 10 of the delivery rotor 7 comes into contact. The ground wire is in electrical connection with the metal part of the rental machine MK. The metal part of the rental machine MK is grounded with a ground wire.

  The medal lending machine MK has a mechanism in which the medal 100 sent from the medal sending device 2 is paid out from the front face of the lending machine MK to the medal tray 1D on the front face of the gaming machine 1 through the nozzle 2N, as shown in FIG. As described above, the medal 100 sent out from the medal sending device 2 may be paid out to the medal tray 51 provided on the front surface of the lending machine MK.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be conceived without departing from the technical scope of the present invention, and include various embodiments related thereto.

It is an upper surface perspective view of the coin-shaped member sending device concerning the present invention. (Example 1) It is the perspective view which removed the cover of the sending part of the coin-shaped member sending device concerning the present invention. (Example 1) It is the top view which removed the cover of the sending part of the coin-shaped member sending device concerning the present invention. (Example 1) It is sectional drawing which shows the relationship between the sending rotor and rotor guide ring of the coin-shaped member sending device which concerns on this invention. (Example 1) It is a back side perspective view of the separation hole part of the sending rotor concerning the present invention. (Example 1) It is a perspective view which shows the detection part which concerns on this invention. (Example 1) It is explanatory drawing of the detection position of the detection part which concerns on this invention. (Example 1) It is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between the passage time when a medal passes the detection part which concerns on this invention, and a clock pulse. (Example 1) It is a front view which shows the combined state of the medal rental machine provided with the coin-shaped member sending device which concerns on this invention, and a game machine. (Example 1) It is a front perspective view of the medal lending machine of other forms concerning the present invention. (Example 1)

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 .... Game machine 2 .... Coin-like member sending device 4 .... Base member 5 .... Coin-like member accommodating part 5P ... Storage container (hopper)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 7 ... Sending rotor 8 ... Electric motor apparatus 9 ... Rotary shaft 10 ... Separation hole 13 ... Sending part 15 ... Fixed side wall 16 ... Movable body 17 ... Spring 20 ... Rotor guide ring 20C ... Notch 21 ... Locking claw part 23 ... Detection part 24A, 24B ... Light emitting part 25A, 25B ... Light receiving part 26 ... Fixed side wall 61 ... ..Control unit 100..Coin-like member 110..Slice identification device MK ... Medal lending machine

Claims (3)

  A coin-shaped member accommodating portion is provided on the base member, a plurality of separation holes are formed, and a rotation of a feeding rotor disposed on the base member causes the coin-shaped member of the accommodating portion to be fed one by one to the feeding portion. In the coin-shaped member sending device provided with the detecting unit for detecting the passage of the coin-like member to be sent, the coin-like member sending device is initially operated in the power-on state of the coin-like member sending device. Based on the diameter data of the coin-shaped member detected by the detection unit, the control unit is set to the operation state of the coin-shaped member of the detected diameter, and the subsequent normal coin-shaped member feeding operation is continued in the operation state. A coin-shaped member feeding device, wherein the control unit is equipped with a program for automatically setting to do so.   A coin-shaped member accommodating portion is provided on the base member, a plurality of separation holes are formed, and a rotation of a feeding rotor disposed on the base member causes the coin-shaped member of the accommodating portion to be fed one by one to the feeding portion. In the coin-shaped member lending machine incorporating the coin-shaped member sending device provided in the sending portion with a detecting unit for detecting the passage of the coin-shaped member to be sent, the coin-shaped member sending device is first turned on. Based on the diameter data of the coin-shaped member detected by the detection unit, the control unit is set to the operation state of the coin-shaped member of the detected diameter by the normal coin-shaped member sending operation performed, and the subsequent normal coin-shaped A coin-shaped member lending machine, wherein the control unit includes a program for automatically setting a member feeding operation so as to continue in the operation state.   The detection unit is common to coin-shaped members having different diameters, and the items for setting the control unit to the operating state of the detected coin-shaped member of the diameter based on the diameter data are the rotational speed of the delivery rotor, the storage unit The number of times of payout for the remaining amount when the storage amount is reduced below a predetermined amount, and the number of times of forward rotation and reverse rotation of the delivery rotor when the coin-like member is jammed during the delivery operation The coin-shaped member feeding device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that

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