JP2008048889A - Nozzle chute and inter-stand token dispensing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a nozzle chute 22 in which a nozzle chute tip member 53 can be surely arranged at a tray 18 of a game machine 12 and which does not obstruct opening and closing of a door 17 of the game machine 12. <P>SOLUTION: At a first joint part 54, the base end of a nozzle chute body 52 is made turnable in a horizontal direction with respect to a nozzle chute attaching member 51 attached to the inter-stand token dispensing machine 13. At a second joint part 55, the nozzle chute tip member 53 is made turnable in the horizontal direction with respect to the base end of the nozzle chute body 52. Via the first joint part 54 and the second joint part 55, the nozzle chute tip member 53 is surely arranged at the tray 18 of the game machine 12. When opening the door 17 of the game machine 12, since the nozzle chute tip member 53 is turned at the second joint part 55, the nozzle chute body 52 is turned at the first joint part 54 and they are made to escape respectively, the opening and closing of the door 17 are not obstructed and the damages of the nozzle chute tip member 53 and the nozzle chute body 52 are prevented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a nozzle chute for guiding a medal paid out from a machine token lending machine to a tray of a gaming machine, and a machine token lending machine using the nozzle chute.

  Conventionally, a plurality of gaming islands have been installed in a gaming store, and each gaming island has a plurality of gaming machines such as pachislot machines that use medals with a predetermined space in parallel. An inter-unit medal lending machine is installed on the right side to lend medals.

  A nozzle chute that guides medals paid out from the inter-unit medal lending machine when medals are rented to the tray of the left gaming machine is attached to the front surface of the inter-unit medal lending machine.

The nozzle chute is a nozzle chute mounting member attached to the front face of the inter-unit medal lending machine, a nozzle chute main body attached to the nozzle chute mounting member, and a nozzle chute attached to the tip of the nozzle chute main body so as to be able to swing vertically A tip member is provided. The nozzle chute main body is formed in a curved shape from the base end to the tip end toward the tray of the left side gaming machine, and is a first parallel to the front face of the inter-unit medal lending machine with respect to the nozzle chute mounting member. It is attached so as to be turnable in the left-right direction around the axis, and is attached so as to be rotatable around a second axis perpendicular to the front surface of the inter-unit medal lending machine. Then, the position of the nozzle chute tip member in the left-right direction can be adjusted by turning the nozzle chute body in the left-right direction about the first axis, and the rotation of the nozzle chute body about the second axis can be adjusted. The position of the nozzle chute tip member in the vertical direction can be adjusted by the movement (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-10524 (page 3-5, FIGS. 1-4)

  In recent years, various game machines have been developed, and some of the ornaments around the front surface of the game machine have a large protruding amount, and the position of the saucer is not constant.

  In the nozzle chute of a conventional machine token lending machine, the length of the nozzle chute main body is curved from the base end to the tip toward the tray of the left game machine, and the length is fixed. In some cases, the nozzle chute tip member cannot be properly placed on the tray of the gaming machine due to the difference in the distance between the gaming machine and the inter-unit medal lending machine. Since the nozzle chute cannot handle such a difference in the positional relationship between the gaming machine and the inter-medal renting machine, the inter-medal renting machine must be installed by adjusting the position in the depth direction and the distance from the gaming machine. .

  Furthermore, when opening the front door of the gaming machine installed adjacent to the right side of the inter-unit medal lending machine, the nozzle chute tip member is positioned on the left side even if the nozzle chute main body is moved to the left side and retracted. The nozzle chute main body cannot be fully moved to the left side and retracted by contacting the machine, and the front or left side of the right gaming machine door interferes with the nozzle chute main body, causing the right gaming machine to There are cases where the door cannot be opened sufficiently. In such a case, it is necessary to install an extra space between the inter-unit medal lending machine and the right side gaming machine, and the number of gaming machines installed on the amusement island is reduced. There is a problem that fraudulent acts are likely to be performed from the aspect of the intermedal machine.

  Furthermore, when opening the front door of the gaming machine installed adjacent to the left side of the inter-unit medal lending machine, it is necessary to retract the nozzle chute so as to remove the nozzle sheet tip member from the tray of the gaming machine. If the left side gaming machine door is opened without retracting the nozzle chute, the gaming machine door interferes with the nozzle chute tip member, and the nozzle seat tip member cannot be retracted. Opening may be hindered or the nozzle chute tip member may be damaged.

  As another nozzle chute configuration, the base end side of the nozzle chute main body is fixed to the front surface of the inter-unit medal lending machine, and the front end side of the nozzle chute main body is provided so as to be able to turn in the horizontal direction in the middle of the nozzle sheet main body. However, because the base end side of the nozzle chute main body is fixed, it cannot sufficiently cope with the difference in the positional relationship between the tray of the gaming machine and the inter-unit medal lending machine. Since it cannot evacuate, there is a problem that the opening and closing of the door on the front of the gaming machine is hindered.

  Further, the nozzle chute main body is divided into a plurality of blocks, and the plurality of blocks and the nozzle chute tip member are respectively connected so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in the left and right directions of the nozzle chute. However, there is a problem that the structure is complicated and the cost is increased, and that the height of the tray of the gaming machine cannot be accommodated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has a simple structure, can cope with the difference in the positional relationship between the tray of the gaming machine and the medal lending machine, and the tip member of the nozzle chute is used as the tray of the gaming machine. It is an object of the present invention to provide a nozzle chute and an inter-unit medal lending machine that can be reliably arranged and does not hinder the opening and closing of the front door of the gaming machine.

  The nozzle chute according to claim 1 is a nozzle chute for guiding a medal paid out from a machine token lending machine to a tray of a gaming machine, a nozzle chute attachment member attached to the machine token lending machine, and the nozzle chute attachment A nozzle chute main body having a base end attached to the member, a nozzle chute front end member attached to the front end of the nozzle chute main body, and a base end of the nozzle chute main body attached to the nozzle chute mounting member so as to be pivotable in a horizontal direction. A first joint portion and a second joint portion for attaching the nozzle chute tip member so as to be pivotable in a horizontal direction with respect to the tip of the nozzle chute main body are provided.

  The nozzle chute according to claim 2 is the nozzle chute according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle chute tip member is mounted so as to be pivotable in the horizontal direction with respect to the tip of the nozzle chute main body and is also capable of swinging in the vertical direction. It is attached to.

  The nozzle chute according to claim 3 is a nozzle chute according to claim 2, wherein the upper limit position of the nozzle chute tip member is a position at which the nozzle chute tip member swung upward can be lowered by its own weight. It is what is said.

  The nozzle chute according to claim 4 is the nozzle chute according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the nozzle chute main body has a first joint portion at the base end of the nozzle chute main body arranged behind the front surface of the gaming machine. In addition, the second joint part at the tip of the nozzle chute main body is provided in the vicinity of the front surface of the gaming machine.

  The nozzle chute according to claim 5 is the nozzle chute according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the nozzle chute tip member has a lower surface portion and both side surface portions, and a corner portion formed by these lower surface portion and both side surface portions is a curved surface. In addition to being provided in a shape, the curve of the curved surface increases as it goes from the proximal end to the distal end of the nozzle chute distal end member.

  The inter-unit medal lending machine according to claim 6 is attached to the inter-medal medal lending machine main body for paying out medals and the medal paid out from the inter-medal medal lending machine main body. And a nozzle chute according to any one of claims 1 to 5 which is led to the tray.

  According to the nozzle chute of the first aspect, the base end of the nozzle chute main body can be turned in the horizontal direction at the first joint portion with respect to the nozzle chute mounting member attached to the inter-unit medal lending machine. Since the nozzle chute tip member can be turned in the horizontal direction at the second joint with respect to the tip of the chute body, the nozzle chute tip can be adapted to the difference in the positional relationship between the tray of the gaming machine and the inter-unit medal lending machine. The member can be securely arranged on the tray of the gaming machine, and when the front door of the gaming machine is opened, for example, the nozzle chute body turns at the first joint portion at the base end of the nozzle chute body and the nozzle chute body Since the tip side can be largely retracted from the gaming machine that opens the door, it is possible to prevent the opening and closing of the gaming machine door from being obstructed. Also interferes with the tip member, since the nozzle chute tip member escapes to pivot in a second joint portion, the breakage of the nozzle chute tip member can be prevented with not interfere with the opening and closing of the door of the gaming machine.

  According to the nozzle chute according to claim 2, in addition to the effect of the nozzle chute according to claim 1, the nozzle chute tip member can swing in the vertical direction with respect to the nozzle chute main body. The nozzle chute tip member can be reliably placed on the tray of the gaming machine.

  According to the nozzle chute of the third aspect, in addition to the effect of the nozzle chute of the second aspect, the upper limit of the swing position of the nozzle chute tip member is the weight of the nozzle chute tip member swung upward. The nozzle chute tip member is lowered by its own weight and can be easily placed in the gaming machine saucer simply by releasing the lifting after moving the lifted nozzle chute tip member onto the gaming machine saucer. Can be placed.

  According to the nozzle chute according to claim 4, in addition to the effect of the nozzle chute according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the nozzle chute main body has a first joint portion at the base end of the nozzle chute main body of the gaming machine. Since the second joint portion at the tip of the nozzle chute main body is disposed behind the front surface and disposed near the front surface of the gaming machine, the tip of the nozzle chute is inserted through the second joint portion. The nozzle chute tip member can be easily placed on the tray of the gaming machine simply by turning the member.

  According to the nozzle chute of the fifth aspect, in addition to the effect of the nozzle chute according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the corner portion formed by the lower surface portion and both side surface portions of the nozzle chute tip member is provided in a curved shape. And the curvature of the curved surface increases as it goes from the base end to the tip of the nozzle chute tip member, so that the door on the front side of the gaming machine remains with the nozzle chute tip member placed on the tray of the gaming machine. Even when the nozzle chute is opened, the corner portion of the nozzle chute tip member is easily detached without being caught by the tray, and damage to the nozzle chute tip member can be prevented.

  According to the inter-unit medal lending machine according to claim 6, since the nozzle chute according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is provided, the positional relationship between the tray of the gaming machine and the inter-medal medal lending machine by this nozzle chute The nozzle chute tip member can be reliably placed on the tray of the gaming machine and the medal can be supplied, and the nozzle chute can be prevented from obstructing the opening and closing of the front door of the gaming machine.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 3 shows a part of the game island 11 installed in the game store. A plurality of game machines 12 such as pachislot machines using medals are arranged in parallel with a predetermined space on the game island 11. On the right side of each gaming machine 12, an inter-unit medal lending machine 13 for lending medals is installed.

  The gaming machine 12 is a game in which a player enters a medal and plays a game, and pays out an acquired medal, that is, an award medal. The gaming machine 12 has a gaming machine main body 16 and a door 17 that can be opened forward on the front side of the gaming machine main body 16 with the left side as a fulcrum. On the front surface of the door 17, although not shown, there are an insertion slot for inserting medals, a rotation display unit for rotating symbols and characters, a button for stopping the rotation display of the rotation display unit during games, etc. Yes. A tray 18 for paying out the acquired medals is disposed at the lower front portion of the gaming machine main body 16. A peripheral wall portion 18a is formed around the tray 18, and a receiving portion 18b that opens upward and stores medals is formed inside the peripheral wall portion 18a. In the gaming machine 12, a medal payout device for paying out award medals to the tray 18 is disposed.

  The inter-unit medal lending machine 13 has a inter-unit medal lending machine main body 21 installed at the side position of the gaming machine main body 16 in the back direction from the front of the gaming machine 12 between the gaming machines 12. A nozzle chute 22 is attached to the front surface of the inter-unit medal lending machine main body 21 for guiding medals paid out from the inter-medal medal lending machine main body 21 to the tray 18 of the left-side gaming machine 12 when medals are lent.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, an upper door 24, a central door 25, and a lower door 26 are attached to the front surface of the inter-unit medal lending machine main body 21 in order from the top so as to be opened and closed.

  The upper door 24 is pivotally supported so that the lower end can be pivoted, and is in an upright position to close the front surface of the intermediary medal lending machine main body 21, and the upper end side of the intermediary medal lending machine main body 21 is tilted forward. It can be rotated between an open position where the front surface is opened. On the upper door 24, a lock mechanism 27 that locks and unlocks with a key at the closed position of the upper door 24, a bill insertion slot 28 as a money insertion slot for inserting a bill, a card insertion slot 29 for inserting an IC card, a status display For example, an operation display unit 31 that is configured by a 7 segment × 6 digit LED and displays the number of medals, error codes, input numerical values, and the like is provided. The display unit 30 is provided with a receiving unit that receives a signal that the store clerk performs a transmission operation with the clerk remote controller in order to instruct the collection of medals.

  The central door 25 has a lower end pivotally supported by the inter-unit medal lending machine main body 21 so as to be able to rotate upright and close the front surface of the inter-unit medal lending machine main body 21, and an upper end side of the central door 25 at the front side, for example, 45 °. It is possible to rotate between an open position where the front face of the inter-unit medal lending machine main body 21 is opened by being inclined to the inclined posture. The central door 25 is provided with a locking mechanism 32 that is locked and unlocked by a key at the closed position of the central door 25. On both sides of the back side of the central door 25, the side wall between the main machine 21 and the main machine 21 is covered with the central door 25 in the open position. A guide 33 for guiding the main body 21 is provided.

  The lower door 26 is disengaged from the intermediary medal lending machine main body 21 through the opening portion of the intermediary medal lending machine main body 21 by opening the central door 25, thereby disengaging the intermediary medal lending machine main body 21. Detachable. A nozzle chute 22 is attached to the front surface of the lower door 26 to guide medals paid out from the inter-unit medal lending machine main body 21 to the tray 18 of the game machine 12 on the left side.

  In addition, in the rear area of the upper door 24 and in the upper part of the inter-unit medal lending machine main body 21, the banknote identifying and storing unit 34 for storing banknotes that identify and accept banknotes inserted into the banknote insertion slot 28, and cards An IC card processing unit 35 for identifying an IC card inserted into the insertion slot 29 and a control unit 36 for controlling medal lending are disposed. The banknote identification storage unit 34 takes in and recognizes the banknotes inserted from the banknote insertion slot 28, stores regular banknotes that are handled, and returns banknotes that are not handled or unidentifiable to the banknote insertion slot 28. return. The banknotes stored in the banknote identification storage unit 34 can be taken out by opening the upper door 24.

  A medal storage portion 37 for storing medals is formed in the lower side area behind the central door 25 and in the central portion of the inter-unit medal lending machine main body 21.

  A medal throwing unit 38 that accepts medals stored in the medal storage unit 37 and pays them one by one to the front nozzle chute 22 in the rear area of the lower door 26 and in the lower part of the inter-unit medal lending machine main body 21. And a power supply unit 39 for supplying power to the inter-unit medal lending machine main body 21 is arranged below the medal projecting unit 38. The medal throwing unit 38 includes, for example, a horizontally arranged rotating disk, receives medals on the rotating disk, and sends out medals from the periphery of the rotating disk one by one in a horizontal posture by the rotation of the rotating disk. Pay out to Chute 22.

  In addition, there is a case where an automatic medal replenishment system is installed inside the amusement island 11 behind the inter-unit medal lending machine main body 21 in order to reduce the medal replenishment work. The inter-unit medal lending machine main body 21 is configured to be compatible with an automatic medal supply system. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a replenishment port 40 is formed on the back side of the inter-unit medal lending machine body 21, and a plate 41 is attached to the back side of the inter-unit medal lending machine body 21 regardless of whether or not automatic replenishment is performed. The medal supply chute 42 is attached to the plate 41 only when there is automatic supply. The plate 41 is a flat plate that is long in the vertical direction. A closing portion 43 that can close the supply port 40 is formed on one end side in the longitudinal direction, and the width of the supply port 40 in the other direction is narrower than the vertical width. An opening 44 to which the medal replenishment chute 42 is attached is formed, and the medal replenishment chute 42 can be attached to the opening 44 in any direction in which the plate 41 is turned upside down.

  When there is no automatic replenishment, as shown in FIG. 8A, the back surface of the intermediary medal lending machine main body 21 so that the plate 41 with the closing portion 43 facing upward covers the replenishment port 40 with the closing portion 43. Is attached.

  Even if there is automatic replenishment, the height of the medal replenishment chute 42 is low and high because the height of the medal supply to the inter-unit medal lending machine main body 21 varies depending on the manufacturer of the automatic medal replenishment system. Can be adjusted.

  When there is automatic replenishment and the replenishment position of the medal is low, as shown in FIG. 8B, the opening 44 of the plate 41 with the closing portion 43 facing upward is positioned closer to the lower portion of the replenishment port 40. The plate 41 is attached to the back surface of the inter-unit medal lending machine main body 21 so as to be disposed and to block a part of the upper side of the replenishing port 40 with the closing portion 43. Thereby, the medal supply chute 42 attached to the opening 44 of the plate 41 is arranged at a low position, and the medal supplied from the low position of the automatic medal supply system can be received by the medal supply chute 42 and automatically supplied.

  When there is automatic replenishment and the replenishment position of the medal is high, the opening portion 44 of the plate 41 with the closing portion 43 facing downward is positioned closer to the upper portion of the replenishment port 40 as shown in FIG. And the plate 41 is attached to the back surface of the inter-unit medal lending machine main body 21 so that the closing portion 43 closes a part of the lower side of the supply port 40. Thereby, the medal supply chute 42 attached to the opening 44 of the plate 41 is arranged at a high position, and the medal supplied from the high position of the automatic medal supply system can be received by the medal supply chute 42 and automatically supplied.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the nozzle chute 22 has a nozzle chute mounting member 51 attached to the front surface of the lower door 26 of the inter-unit medal lending machine main body 21, and a base end attached to the nozzle chute mounting member 51. And a nozzle chute tip member 53 attached to the tip of the nozzle chute main body 52.

  The proximal end of the nozzle chute body 52 is attached to the nozzle chute attachment member 51 by the first joint portion 54 so as to be turnable in the horizontal direction and in the horizontal direction. The nozzle chute tip member 53 is attached to the tip of the nozzle chute main body 52 so as to be pivotable in the horizontal direction by a rotation support member 56 constituting the second joint portion 55, and can also swing in the vertical direction. Is attached.

  The nozzle chute main body 52 has a cylindrical chute passage 58 through which medals pass, and is arranged so as to incline downward from the base end of the nozzle chute main body 52 toward the front end, thereby horizontally A medal to be paid out in a posture is received in the chute passage 58 from the base end side, and a medal surface directed to the lower side of the medal slides down on the bottom surface in the chute passage 58 and is guided to the front end side. The width of the nozzle chute body 52 is small enough to allow only one medal in a horizontal posture to pass in the width direction in the chute passage 58.

  At the base end of the nozzle chute main body 52, a base end cylindrical portion 59 is formed with the vertical axis as the center, and shaft portions 60 project from the upper and lower surfaces of the base end cylindrical portion 59. On the rear surface of the base end cylindrical portion 59, a receiving port 61 for receiving a medal paid out from the medal throwing portion 38 into the chute passage 58 is formed. A tip cylindrical portion 62 is formed at the tip of the nozzle chute main body 52 with the vertical axis as a center, and a medal guided to the tip of the chute passage 58 on the left side surface of the tip cylindrical portion 62 is used as a nozzle chute tip member. A discharge port 63 for discharging to 53 is formed.

  The nozzle chute mounting member 51 includes a front cover 65 and a rear cover 66. A frame portion 67 is formed around the front cover 65, and a cover portion 68 protrudes from the front surface of the frame portion 67. The cover portion 68 is formed in a semi-cylindrical shape in which the proximal end cylindrical portion 59 of the nozzle chute main body 52 is engaged so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction. A window hole 69 that allows the chute body 52 to pivot is formed. On the upper and lower surfaces of the cover portion 68, semicircular bearing portions 70 that engage with the upper and lower shaft portions 60 of the proximal end cylindrical portion 59 are formed.

  The rear cover 66 is formed with a semi-cylindrical concave portion 71 in which the proximal end cylindrical portion 59 of the nozzle chute main body 52 is engaged so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction. A supply port 72 for supplying medals is formed in communication with 59 receiving ports 61. A mounting portion 73 is formed to project from the upper and lower portions of the rear cover 66.

  The front cover 65 and the rear cover 66 sandwich the proximal end cylindrical portion 59 of the nozzle chute main body 52 from the front and rear, and hold it so that it can rotate horizontally, that is, turn.

  The lower door 26 is formed with a fitting opening 74 into which the cover portion 68 of the front cover 65 is fitted from the back side, and mounting brackets 75 are attached above and below the fitting opening 74 on the back side of the lower door 26. The nozzle chute attachment member 51 is fixed to the lower door 26 by attaching a plurality of screws 76 to a plurality of locations of the attachment portion 73 of the rear cover 66 combined with the front cover 65 to these attachment brackets 75.

  The base end side of the nozzle chute main body 52, that is, the nozzle chute mounting member 51 is arranged at a position offset to the left from the center when viewed from the front surface of the lower door 26.

  The nozzle chute main body 52 is attached to the nozzle chute mounting member 51 so as to be turnable in the horizontal and horizontal directions by the base end cylindrical portion 59, the front cover 65, the rear cover 66, and the like of the nozzle chute main body 52. The joint 54 is configured.

  The rotation support member 56 is attached to the lower surface of the tip cylindrical portion 62 of the nozzle chute body 52 with a screw 79 via a spacer 78, and the nozzle chute tip member 53 is a discharge port 63 on the left side surface of the tip cylindrical portion 62. Can be rotated with respect to the tip cylindrical portion 62 of the nozzle chute main body 52 within a predetermined range in which a medal can be received. Side plate portions 80 are erected on both sides of the rotation support member 56, and shaft portions 81 are provided on the outer surfaces of the side plate portions 80 on both sides to support the nozzle chute tip member 53 so as to be swingable in the vertical direction.

  The rotation support member 56 constitutes a second joint portion 55 for attaching the nozzle chute tip member 53 to the tip of the nozzle chute main body 52 so as to be turnable in the horizontal direction. The height position of the rotation support member 56 is disposed at a position higher than the height position of the tray 18 of the gaming machine 12.

  Further, the nozzle chute tip member 53 has a lower surface portion 83 and side surface portions 84 on both sides, and shaft holes 85 that are rotatably engaged with the shaft portions 81 of the rotation support member 56 are formed on both side surface portions 84. . Accordingly, the nozzle chute tip member 53 is attached so as to be turnable in the horizontal direction with respect to the tip of the nozzle chute main body 52, and is also attached so as to be swingable in the vertical direction.

  In the peripheral area of the shaft hole 85 on the inner surface side of the both side surface portions 84 of the nozzle chute tip member 53, the lower limit and upward swing positions of the nozzle chute tip member 53 due to contact with the side plate portion 80 of the rotation support member 56 A stopper 86 is provided to restrict the movement. Further, the downward swing limit position of the nozzle chute tip member 53 is a position directed obliquely downward as indicated by a solid line in FIG. The upper limit position of the nozzle chute tip member 53 is a substantially horizontal position as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 5, and the nozzle chute tip member 53 swung upward is self-weighted. It is set as a position where it can be lowered.

  Corners formed by the lower surface portion 83 and both side surface portions 84 are provided in a curved shape, and the curved surface 87 is provided so that the curvature of the curved surface 87 increases from the proximal end to the distal end of the nozzle chute distal end member 53.

  The machine renting machine body 21 between the machines is installed in the back direction from the front surface of the gaming machine 12 between the gaming machine 12, and at the side position of the gaming machine body 16, and the nozzle chute 22 A first joint portion 54 at the base end of the main body 52 is disposed behind the front surface of the gaming machine 12, and a second joint portion 55 at the tip of the nozzle chute main body 52 is disposed near the front surface of the gaming machine 12. ing. Furthermore, the height position of the rotation support member 56 is arranged at a position higher than the height position of the tray 18 of the gaming machine 12.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

  First, preparation work by a store clerk will be described.

  When the medal lending machine 13 is not automatically replenished, the store clerk unlocks the locking mechanism 32 of the central door 25 of the intermedal medal lending machine 13 with the key and opens the central door 25, and manually medal Is supplied to the medal throwing unit 38. After replenishment, the central door 25 is closed and the locking mechanism 32 is locked with a key. This medal replenishment work is performed before the opening of the amusement store, and is performed if the medal storage amount in the medal dispensing unit 38 is reduced even during business.

  Further, before the game shop is opened, the store clerk opens the door 17 of the gaming machine 12 and replenishes the medal payout section of the gaming machine 12 with medals. At this time, in many cases, the nozzle chute tip member 53 of the nozzle chute 22 is in a state where it is inside the tray 18 of the gaming machine 12 (a state in which the player has finished the game), so FIG. 5 and FIG. As shown by a two-dot chain line, the nozzle chute tip member 53 is swung upward to remove it from the tray 18 and the nozzle chute main body 52 is turned rightward to open the nozzle chute tip from the open area in front of the door 17. After retracting the nozzle chute 22 so as to retract the member 53, the door 17 is opened and the replenishment operation is performed.

  When the replenishment of medals to the gaming machine 12 is completed, the door 17 of the gaming machine 12 is closed, and the nozzle chute tip member 53 of the nozzle chute 22 is placed in advance so that the player can use it immediately after reaching the gaming machine 12 location. It is placed inside the tray 18 of the gaming machine 12.

  In addition, preparations before sales include setting the gaming machine 12 by opening the door 17 of the gaming machine 12, cleaning the tray 18 of the gaming machine 12, etc. Necessary.

  Next, the use of the inter-unit medal lending machine 13 by the player will be described.

  The player places the nozzle chute tip member 53 of the nozzle chute 22 inside the saucer 18 so that the medal lent out from the inter-unit medal lending machine 13 is paid out to the saucer 18 of the gaming machine 12 and lends the medal. . In many cases, when the player arrives at the place of the gaming machine 12, the nozzle chute tip member 53 is placed inside the tray 18 of the gaming machine 12.

  A player inserts a banknote into the banknote insertion slot 28, and the inserted banknote is identified by the banknote identification storage unit 34. As a result of identification, it accepts and stores regular banknotes that are to be handled, and returns banknotes that are not handled or banknotes that cannot be identified.

  If the bill identifying and storing unit 34 identifies the bill to be handled, the medal throwing unit 38 is driven to throw out a predetermined number of medals, and is supplied to the tray 18 of the gaming machine 12 through the nozzle chute 22.

  Then, the player plays a game on the gaming machine 12 using the medals supplied to the tray 18.

  In addition, when a medal paid out from inside the gaming machine 12 due to a big hit or the like is filled in the tray, the player holds the nozzle chute tip member 53 as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIGS. The nozzle chute 22 is retracted so that the nozzle chute body 52 is swung upward and removed from the tray 18 and the nozzle chute main body 52 is swung to the right to retract the nozzle chute tip member 53 from the open area in front of the door 17. After that, the medal in the tray 18 is scraped and transferred to the medal box.

  Next, an error canceling operation by the store clerk will be described.

  If an error occurs in the medal throwing section 38 of the inter-unit medal lending machine 13, the store clerk unlocks the locking mechanism 32 of the central door 25 with the key, opens the central door 25, and opens the central door 25. The lower door 26 is removed by disengaging the engaging portion of the lower door 26 inside the inter-unit medal machine main body 21 through the opening of the inter-unit medal machine body 21. The medal throwing unit 38 is pulled out from the inter-unit medal lending machine main body 21 to eliminate the clogging in the medal throwing unit 38. After the clogging of medals is resolved, the medal throwing section 38 is pushed back into the intermediary medal lending machine body 21, the lower door 26 is attached to the intermediary medal lending machine body 21, the central door 25 is closed, and the lock mechanism 32 is Lock with the key.

  When an error occurs in the gaming machine 12, the door 17 of the gaming machine 12 is opened to cancel the error. At this time, in many cases, since the nozzle chute tip member 53 is inside the tray 18 of the gaming machine 12, the nozzle chute tip member as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIGS. The nozzle chute 22 is retracted so that the nozzle chute main body 52 is swung to the right and the nozzle chute tip member 53 is retracted from the open area in front of the door 17 while swinging 53 upward and removing from the tray 18. After that, open the door 17 and perform replenishment work.

  After the error of the gaming machine 12 is released, the door 17 of the gaming machine 12 is closed, and the nozzle chute tip member 53 of the nozzle chute 22 is placed inside the tray 18 of the gaming machine 12.

  Next, post-processing work by a store clerk will be described.

  When collecting banknotes from the inter-unit medal lending machine 13, the store clerk unlocks the locking mechanism 27 of the upper door 24 with a key, opens the upper door 24, and removes the banknotes stored in the banknote identification storage section 34. The upper door 24 is taken out and the lock mechanism 27 is locked with a key. This banknote collection operation may be performed during the business as well as after the business is over.

  The medal is also a valuable resource, and if the medal is to be collected for reasons such as anxiety that it will remain in the inter-unit medal lending machine 13 during closing, point the clerk's remote control toward the remote control receiver of the display unit 30. By performing the transmission operation, all the medals stored in the medal throwing unit 38 are thrown out, and medals paid out from the nozzle chute 22 are collected. In addition, medals in the gaming machine 12 are also thrown into the tray 18 and collected.

  Next, the operation of the nozzle chute 22 of the inter-unit medal lending machine 13 will be described.

  The nozzle chute 22 allows the base end of the nozzle chute main body 52 to turn in the horizontal direction at the first joint portion 54 with respect to the nozzle chute mounting member 51 mounted on the inter-unit medal lending machine 13, and this nozzle chute main body Since the nozzle chute tip member 53 can turn in the horizontal direction at the second joint portion 55 with respect to the tip of 52, the gaming machine 12 and the inter-unit medal lending machine 13 are installed in a close positional relationship or separated from each other. Even if there is a difference in the positional relationship between the tray 18 of the gaming machine 12 and the medal lending machine 13, the nozzle chute tip member 53 is securely attached to the tray 18 of the gaming machine 12. Can be arranged.

  In particular, the nozzle chute 22 has a second joint portion 55 at the tip of the nozzle chute main body 52 in the vicinity of the front surface of the gaming machine 12 regardless of whether the depth dimension of the gaming machine 12, that is, the allowance to the front of the door 17 is large or small. Therefore, the nozzle chute tip member 53 can be reliably placed on the tray 18 of the gaming machine 12 simply by turning the nozzle chute tip member 53 via the second joint portion 55.

  Further, since the nozzle chute tip member 53 can swing in the vertical direction with respect to the nozzle chute main body 52, the nozzle chute tip member 53 can be adapted to the difference in height of the tray 18 of the gaming machine 12 and the gaming machine 12 It can be securely placed in the 12 trays 18.

  Here, the height position of the rotation support member 56 is set higher than the height position of the tray 18 of the gaming machine 12, and the upper swing limit position of the nozzle chute tip member 53 is a substantially horizontal position. By setting the position where the swung nozzle chute tip member 53 can be lowered by its own weight, the nozzle chute tip member 53 can be appropriately placed on the tray 18 of the gaming machine 12 simply by lifting the nozzle chute tip member 53. By simply releasing the lifting of the nozzle chute tip member 53 later, the nozzle chute tip member 53 can be lowered by its own weight and easily put into the tray 18 of the gaming machine 12.

  When the door 17 of the gaming machine 12 is opened, the nozzle chute body 52 turns at the first joint portion 54 at the base end of the nozzle chute body 52 and the distal end side of the nozzle chute body 52 opens the door 17. Since it can be largely retracted, it can be prevented that the door 17 of the gaming machine 12 is opened and closed.

  Moreover, when the door 17 of the gaming machine 12 is opened, even if the door 17 interferes with the nozzle chute tip member 53 in the middle of opening, the nozzle chute tip member 53 easily turns and escapes at the second joint portion 55. The opening and closing of the door 17 of the gaming machine 12 is not hindered, and the nozzle chute tip member 53 can be prevented from being damaged.

  Further, even when the door 17 of the gaming machine 12 is opened by forgetting to retract the nozzle chute tip member 53 from the tray 18, the nozzle chute tip member 53 can swing in the vertical direction and the second joint portion. Since the nozzle chute main body 52 pivots horizontally at the first joint portion 54 and easily escapes at the same time, it does not hinder the opening and closing of the door 17 of the gaming machine 12, and the nozzle chute tip member 53 and It is possible to prevent the nozzle chute body 52 from being damaged.

  In particular, the nozzle chute tip member 53 is provided with a curved surface at the corner formed by the lower surface portion 83 and the side surface portions 84, and the curvature of the curved surface 87 increases toward the tip from the base end of the nozzle chute tip member 53. Therefore, even when the door 17 of the gaming machine 12 is opened while the nozzle chute tip member 53 is disposed inside the tray 18 of the gaming machine 12, the corner portion of the nozzle chute tip member 53 is The nozzle chute tip member 53 can be prevented from being damaged by being easily removed without being caught by the peripheral wall portion 18a of the tray 18.

  Further, the base end side of the nozzle chute main body 52, that is, the nozzle chute mounting member 51 is disposed at a position offset to the left of the center when viewed from the front of the lower door 26, and the width of the nozzle chute main body 52 is the chute passage 58. The nozzle chute 22 is formed on the right side of the inter-unit medal lending machine 13 by making it small enough to allow only one medal in a horizontal position in the width direction of the inside to pass. The door 17 of the right side gaming machine 12 is prevented from interfering with the left nozzle chute 22 when the door 17 of the right gaming machine 12 is opened. Can be increased.

  The nozzle chute 22 of the present embodiment is configured as a conventional nozzle chute. For example, the base end side of the nozzle chute main body is fixed to the front surface of the inter-unit medal lending machine, and the nozzle chute is located at the middle position of the nozzle sheet main body. Compared to the configuration in which the front end side of the main body is pivotable in the horizontal direction, the base end side of the nozzle chute main body 52 can be swiveled in the horizontal direction by the first joint portion 54, so It is possible to easily cope with the difference in positional relationship with the medal lending machine 13 and to prevent the opening and closing of the door 17 of the gaming machine 12 from being hindered because the nozzle chute main body 52 can be swung and retracted.

  In addition, the nozzle chute 22 of the present embodiment is configured as a conventional nozzle chute, for example, by dividing the nozzle chute main body into a plurality of blocks, and each of the plurality of blocks and the nozzle chute tip member can be rotated in the horizontal direction. As a result, the structure becomes simpler than the configuration in which the degree of freedom of the left and right directions of the nozzle chute is increased, and there is an advantage that the height of the tray 18 of the gaming machine 12 can be accommodated.

  Note that the inter-medal medal lending machine 13 can accept an IC card, process it by the IC card processing unit 35, and lend a medal using the value specified by the data of the IC card. Also, coins may be accepted and processed, and medals may be lent out.

  In addition, when an automatic medal replenishment system is installed inside the amusement island 11 behind the interim medal lending machine main body 21 in order to reduce the replenishment work of medals, A medal supply chute 42 is attached to the plate 41 to be arranged so as to correspond to the automatic medal supply system.

  At this time, when the replenishment position of the medal is low, the opening portion 44 of the plate 41 with the closing portion 43 facing upward is arranged at a position closer to the lower portion of the replenishing port 40 as shown in FIG. The plate 41 is attached to the back surface of the inter-unit medal lending machine main body 21 so that the part 43 closes a part of the upper side of the supply port 40. Further, when the replenishment position of the medal is high, as shown in FIG. 8C, the opening portion 44 of the plate 41 with the closing portion 43 facing downward is disposed at a position closer to the upper portion of the replenishing port 40 and closed. The plate 41 is attached to the back surface of the inter-unit medal lending machine main body 21 so that the part 43 closes a part of the lower side of the supply port 40. As a result, the medal replenishment chute 42 attached to the opening 44 of the plate 41 is arranged at a low position or a high position, and medals supplied from a low position or a high position of the automatic medal replenishment system are received by the medal replenishment chute 42 and automatically Can be replenished.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a medallion machine for gaming machines and a gaming machine showing an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the decomposition | disassembly state of the nozzle chute of an inter-unit medal lending machine same as the above. It is a top view which shows a part of game island in which a medal lending machine between machines same as the above and a game machine are installed. It is a top view which shows the turning operation | movement of the nozzle chute | shoot of a medal lending machine same as the above. It is a front view which shows the up-and-down rocking | fluctuation operation | movement of the nozzle chute front-end | tip member of an inter-table medal machine. It is a perspective view of an inter-table medal lending machine. It is sectional drawing of a medal lending machine same as the above. The perspective view of the back of the above-mentioned medal lending machine is shown. (A) is a perspective view when the medals are not automatically replenished from the back. FIG. 4C is a perspective view when the medal supply chute is arranged at a high position in the case where the medal is automatically supplied from the back side.

Explanation of symbols

12 Pachislot machines
13 machine rental machine
18 saucer
21 machine renting machine
22 Nozzle chute
51 Nozzle chute mounting member
52 Nozzle chute body
53 Nozzle chute tip member
54 First joint
55 Second joint
83 Bottom surface
84 Side
87 Curved surface

Claims (6)

A nozzle chute for guiding a medal paid out from a machine rental machine to a tray of a gaming machine,
A nozzle chute mounting member attached to the inter-unit medal lending machine;
A nozzle chute main body having a base end attached to the nozzle chute mounting member;
A nozzle chute tip member attached to the tip of the nozzle chute body;
A first joint portion for attaching the proximal end of the nozzle chute body to the nozzle chute attachment member so as to be turnable in a horizontal direction;
A nozzle chute comprising: a second joint portion for attaching the nozzle chute tip member so as to be pivotable in a horizontal direction with respect to the tip of the nozzle chute main body. 2. The nozzle chute according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle chute tip member is attached to be pivotable in the horizontal direction with respect to the tip of the nozzle chute main body and is also swingable in the vertical direction. The nozzle chute according to claim 2, wherein the upper limit swing position of the nozzle chute tip member is a position at which the nozzle chute tip member swung upward can be lowered by its own weight. In the nozzle chute main body, the first joint portion at the base end of the nozzle chute main body is arranged behind the front surface of the gaming machine, and the second joint portion at the tip of the nozzle chute main body is located near the front surface of the gaming machine. It is provided so that it may be arrange | positioned. The nozzle chute in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. The nozzle chute tip member has a lower surface portion and both side surface portions, corners formed by the lower surface portion and both side surface portions are provided in a curved shape, and the curved surface of the nozzle chute tip member is curved toward the distal end. The nozzle chute according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the nozzle chute is provided to have a large curvature. An inter-unit medal lending machine that pays out medals,
The nozzle chute according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the nozzle chute is attached to a front face of the inter-unit medal lending machine main body and guides a medal paid out from the inter-medal medal lending machine main body to a tray of the gaming machine. An inter-unit medal lending machine.

Images