JP2008080032A - Carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a carrier capable of discharging a foreign matter or the like inside the carrier to the outside of the carrier by the reverse rotation of a belt without obstructing the game of a player. <P>SOLUTION: The carrier comprises a batch feed opening (31), the belt (53) for sending out game tokens fed from the batch feed opening (31) to a token feed port (10), a belt operation switch (273), and a judgement control means (500) for judging whether or not the belt (53) is operated within prescribed time, and is formed such that a game token on the belt (53) is sent out from the front end of the belt (53) to the token feed port (10) when the belt (53) is normally rotated and is dropped from the rear end of the belt (53) and discharged to the outside when it is reversely rotated. The belt (53) is reversely rotated when the belt (53) is not operated for the prescribed time as the judged result of the judgement control means (500). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a transport device for inserting game medals into a medal slot of a gaming machine adjacent to a gaming machine having a medal slot for inserting game medals.

  Conventionally, in gaming machines that use gaming medals as gaming media, such as gaming machines, based on a request to play an efficient game or to play a game without touching the gaming medals as much as possible, A pedestal machine for gaming machines (medal lending machine) was devised in which a transfer device (with a batch loading mechanism) equipped with a batch insertion opening and a medal feeding device was attached to the front so that gaming medals could be supplied directly to gaming machines. (See Patent Document 1). This medal lending machine has a medal storage part in which medals inserted from the batch insertion opening or medals paid out from the medal lending machine are stored, and gradually from the medals stored in the lower layer of the medal storage part. It is formed so that it is transferred by a conveyor belt, the transferred medals are separated one by one by a separation roller, and sent to an adjacent gaming machine (game machine).

Also, a medal lending machine (between machines for gaming machines) equipped with a transport device that can supply rented medals directly to adjacent gaming machines and can batch-load gaming medals to adjacent gaming machines is under consideration. (See Patent Document 2). The transport device of this medal lending machine includes a batch loading tray, a medal feeding device including a belt that separates and feeds game medals placed in the batch loading tray one by one, and a game medal sent by the medal feeding device, And a transfer passage for transferring to a medal slot of an adjacent gaming machine.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-342433 (FIG. 1) JP 2005-192721 A

  The conventional transfer device described above has a collective throwing opening for throwing in game medals in a lump. There are cases where cigarette butts, garbage, etc. are thrown into a batch loading opening of a transfer device attached to a gaming machine that has not been used, foreign matter enters by mistake, or forgetting to collect game medals. In such a case, the transport device is structured so that it can be discharged to the outside of the transport device by reversing the belt under the batch loading opening. There was no state. For this reason, there are few opportunities for the belt to reverse during the operation of a game hall in which a plurality of game machines such as game machines are installed and operated, and a game medal that has been forgotten to be collected, There is a problem that foreign matter that has entered or that has been intentionally thrown in remains.

Also, there is a problem that if a player tries to give a chance to discharge such foreign objects after starting the game after sitting in front of the gaming machine or after starting the game, it will interfere with the player's game. There was a point.
Accordingly, each invention described in each claim has been made in view of the problems of the conventional techniques described above, and the object thereof is as follows.
(Inventions 1 and 2) That is, the inventions described in claims 1 and 2 have been made in view of the problems of the prior art described above, and the object is to obstruct the game of the player. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a transport device that can discharge foreign matter or the like in the transport device to the outside of the transport device by reversing the belt.

(Claim 3) The invention described in claim 3 has the following object in addition to the object of the invention described in claim 1 or claim 2. That is, the invention described in claim 3 aims to provide a transport device that can improve the safety when the belt is reversely rotated and prevent the introduction of foreign matters and the like during the reverse rotation.
(Claim 4) In addition to the object of the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 3, the invention described in claim 4 aims at the following point. That is, the invention according to claim 4 is to provide a transport apparatus that can discharge foreign matter or the like in the transport apparatus to the outside of the transport apparatus more reliably.

(Claim 1)
(Features) The invention described in claim 1 is characterized by the following points. That is, a transfer device (3) for inserting game medals into the medal insertion slot (10) of the gaming machine (1) having a medal insertion slot (10) for inserting game medals. A batch insertion opening (31) capable of receiving game medals of the game, and a medal insertion slot (10) for gaming medals inserted from the batch insertion opening (31) located below the batch insertion opening (31). A belt (53) to be fed to the belt, a belt operation switch (273) for operating the belt (53), and a determination for determining whether or not the operation of the belt (53) is performed within a predetermined time Control means (500), and game medals on the belt (53) are sent out from the front end of the belt (53) to the medal slot (10) when the belt (53) is rotated forward, The belt (53) is formed so that it can be dropped from the rear end of the belt (53) and discharged to the outside. Sectional result, the belt (53) a predetermined time, when not actuated, characterized in that reversing the belt (53).

Here, “gaming machine (10)” is specifically a slot machine, for example, but includes a pachinko machine that uses game medals and other game machines that use game medals.
(Operation) According to the present invention, based on the determination result of the determination control means (500), when the belt (53) has not been operated for a predetermined time, the conveying device (3) reverses the belt (53). If there is foreign matter etc. deposited on the belt (53) that is thrown in or entered from the batch entry opening (31), the foreign matter is removed by the reverse rotation of the belt (53). It can be discharged to the outside. Therefore, it is possible to prevent such foreign matters from being inserted into the inside of the gaming machine (1) from the medal slot (10) or clogging in the route to the medal slot (10). Can do.

The reverse rotation of the belt (53) is performed on condition that the belt (53) of the transport device (3) has not been operated for a predetermined time. This is a state in which the transfer device (3) is not used for insertion into the medal insertion slot (10) for a predetermined time, and there is no player attached to the gaming machine (1). 1) is not used, or even though the gaming machine (1) is used, the medal slot (10) using the transport device (3) is not inserted. Therefore, in such a state, even if the belt (53) of the transfer device (3) is reversed, it does not interfere with the player's game.
(Claim 2)
(Features) The invention described in claim 2 is characterized by the following points. That is, a transfer device (3) for inserting game medals into the medal insertion slot (10) of the gaming machine (1) having a medal insertion slot (10) for inserting game medals. A batch insertion opening (31) capable of receiving game medals of the game, and a medal insertion slot (10) for gaming medals inserted from the batch insertion opening (31) located below the batch insertion opening (31). The belt (53) to be fed to the belt, the belt operation switch (273) for operating the belt (53), the operation of the belt (53) and the game of the gaming machine (1) are performed within a predetermined time. Determination control means (500) for determining whether or not a game medal on the belt (53) is transferred from the front end of the belt (53) when the belt (53) rotates forward. It is formed so that it can be discharged to the outside by being dropped from the rear end of the belt (53) when fed back to the insertion port (10) and reversely rotated. If the belt (53) is not operated for a predetermined time and the gaming machine (1) has not been played for a predetermined time as a result of the determination by the determination control means (500), the belt (53) is reversed. It is characterized by that.

Here, the determination control means (500) determines whether or not the operation of the belt (53) is performed within a predetermined time, and the operation of the gaming machine (1) is performed within the predetermined time. This is to determine whether or not As a result, it is determined whether or not the operation of the belt (53) and the game of the gaming machine (1) are performed within a predetermined time.
In addition, here, whether or not the game of the gaming machine (1) is performed within a predetermined time refers to whether or not the gaming medal is inserted into the medal slot (10) within a predetermined period of time. This means whether or not the player is operating in the gaming machine, such as inserting a game medal by operating the bet switch, operating the start switch, operating the stop switch, operating the checkout switch. This is implemented by transmitting the operation information of the predetermined switch of the slot machine from the control device of the slot machine as the gaming machine (1) to the judgment control means (500) of the medal lending machine (2). It is what is done.

(Operation) In the transfer device (3) according to the present invention, the belt (53) is not operated for a predetermined time by the belt operation switch (273) based on the determination result of the determination control means (500), and the gaming machine When (1) has not been played for a predetermined time, the belt (53) of the transport device (3) is reversed. Due to the reverse rotation of the belt (53), foreign matter or the like that has entered or entered through the batch entry opening (31) and accumulated on the belt (53) can be discharged out of the conveying device (3). Therefore, it is possible to prevent such foreign matters from being inserted into the inside of the gaming machine (1) from the medal slot (10) or clogging in the route to the medal slot (10). Can do.
The reverse rotation of the belt (53) is performed on the condition that the belt (53) of the transport device (3) has not been operated for a predetermined time and that the gaming machine (1) has not been played for a predetermined time. Is called. This is a case where no player is attached to the gaming machine (1) for a predetermined time, and neither the gaming machine (1) nor the transfer device (3) is used. Therefore, in such a state, even if the belt (53) of the transfer device (3) is reversed, it does not interfere with the player's game.

(Claim 3)
(Features) The invention described in claim 3 is characterized by the following points in addition to the features of the invention described in claim 1 or claim 2. That is, the batch loading opening (31) of the transport device (3) is provided with closing means (300) for closing the batch loading opening (31), and when the belt (53) is reversely rotated, the blocking means ( 300) is formed to be closed.
(Operation) According to the present invention, by closing the closing means (300) when the belt (53) is reversed, it is possible to prevent a finger or the like from entering from the collective opening (31) and improve safety. it can. In addition, foreign matter and game medals can be prevented from being thrown from the batch loading opening (31) when the belt (53) is reversed, and the foreign matter in the transport device (3) is reliably discharged. Can do.

(Claim 4)
(Features) The invention described in claim 4 is characterized by the following points in addition to the features of the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 3. That is, after the belt (53) is reversely rotated, by the determination result of the determination control means (500) by the lapse of a predetermined time, if the belt (53) is not operated, or the belt ( When the gaming machine (1) is not being played, the belt (53) is formed so as to be reversed.
According to the present invention, when the belt (53) is not operated by the determination result of the determination control means (500) before the elapse of a predetermined time after the belt (53) is reversed, the belt (53) The belt (53) is formed so as to be reversely rotated, or after the belt (53) is reversely rotated, by the determination result of the determination control means (500) before the elapse of a predetermined time, the belt When (53) is not operated and the gaming machine (1) is not being played, it means that the belt (53) is formed to be reversed.

  (Operation) According to the present invention, the belt (53) is not operated based on the determination result of the determination control means (500) after the belt (53) is reversed and before the elapse of a predetermined time, or When the belt (53) is not operated and the gaming machine (1) is not played, the transport device (3) reverses the belt (53). In such a case, a game medal is not inserted using the transfer device (3), or a game is not performed in the gaming machine (1). In such a case, even if foreign matter such as dust enters from the collective loading opening (31) after the belt (53) is reversed and until a predetermined time elapses, the player's game Such foreign matter can be discharged to the outside of the transfer device (3) without disturbing. Therefore, it is possible to make the transfer device (3) capable of discharging foreign matter or the like in the transfer device (3) more reliably to the outside of the transfer device (3).

Since this invention is comprised as mentioned above, there exists an effect as described below.
(Claims 1 and 2) According to the inventions described in claims 1 and 2, the following effects can be obtained. In other words, according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, it is possible to provide a transport device that can discharge foreign matters in the transport device to the outside of the transport device by reversing the belt without interfering with the game of the player. Can do.
(Claim 3) According to the invention described in claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1 or 2, the following effect can be obtained. That is, according to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a transport device that can improve the safety when the belt is reversely rotated and can prevent the introduction of foreign matters and the like during the reverse rotation.

  (Claim 4) According to the invention described in claim 4, in addition to the effect of the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 3, the following effect is achieved. That is, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a transport apparatus that can discharge foreign matter or the like in the transport apparatus to the outside of the transport apparatus more reliably.

(First form)
(Explanation of drawings)
1 to 10 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a transport device, FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a gaming machine and a medal lending machine, FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a transport device and a medal slot, and FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of a medal feeder. 5 is a perspective view of a longitudinal section of the medal feeder, FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the medal feeder with the cover member opened, and FIG. 7 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the medal feeder with the cover member opened. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the medal feeding device with the closing means opened, FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the medal feeding device with the closing means closed, and FIG. 10 shows the flow of the belt reverse rotation control of the transport device. .

The transfer device 3 in this embodiment is for inserting game medals into the medal slot 10 of the gaming machine 1 having the medal slot 10 for inserting game medals. This gaming machine 1 is a slot machine that uses game medals and has a rotating reel as a symbol display means.
Here, “front”, “forward”, and “front” refer to the player (or player) lending the gaming machine 1 and the medal in front of the gaming machine 1 and the medal lending machine 2 in front. This means the direction from the back to the front when viewed from such an operator (or player) when sitting or standing while facing the machine 2. Accordingly, the forward direction and the forward direction mean directions from the back of the gaming machine 1 and the medal lending machine 2 toward the front.

“Back”, “rearward direction” and “backward direction” mean that the operator (or player) places the gaming machine 1 and the medal lending machine 2 on the front side of the gaming machine 1 and the medal lending machine 2. This means the direction from the front to the back when viewed from such a worker (or player) when facing the position. Accordingly, the backward direction means a direction from the front of the gaming machine 1 and the medal lending machine 2 toward the back (back). In addition, the left and right directions such as “left direction” and “right direction” in this specification are also the right direction when viewed from the person facing the front of the gaming machine 1 and the medal lending machine 2 Means left direction.
(Game machine 1)
The gaming machine 1 is a so-called slot machine, as shown in FIG. 2, having a square box-like housing whose front surface is open and a front door 13 attached to the front side of the housing. Is formed with a symbol display window 14 through which a symbol of a rotating reel (not shown) can be visually recognized. The front door 13 includes an upper door that can be opened and closed only in the upper half and a lower door that can be opened and closed only in the lower half, although not particularly shown. Further, below the symbol display window 14 and in the substantially central portion of the gaming machine 1 is an operation unit 16 provided with operation means such as a start switch and a stop switch. A medal slot 10 for inserting game medals is provided at the right front end of the operation unit 16. A medal selector 6 is provided below the medal insertion slot 10 for determining the authenticity of game medals and counting the inserted medals. The game medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 10 pass through the medal selector 6 and are stored in the box-shaped medal tank 5. In addition, a lower tray 15 capable of storing a payout medal is provided at the lower part of the gaming machine 1. When the game medal is paid out after winning the game, the game medal stored in the medal tank 5 is paid out to the lower plate 15.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the medal insertion slot 10 has an upper insertion opening 11 into which gaming medals can be inserted one by one from above, and a concave groove shape on the right side from the front of the upper insertion opening 11. And a side transfer passage 12 communicating with the side. The side transfer passage 12 is a bowl-shaped passage extending from the upper insertion opening 11 to the front right side (medal lending machine 2 side), and is inserted from the insertion port introduction path 60 described later through the medal discharge port 66. The game medal that is sent is received and transferred to the upper insertion opening 11.
This gaming machine 1 can start a game on condition that a game medal is inserted. In other words, by inserting a game medal from the medal insertion slot 10, or by inserting a game medal from the medal insertion slot 10 in advance and crediting the game medal inside, and inserting the game medal by pressing the bet switch, A game can be started. The gaming machine 1 can rotate the rotating reel by operating the start switch and can stop the rotating reel by operating the stop switch. At this time, when the symbols displayed on the plurality of rotating reels are stopped in a predetermined position mode, a winning is made, and a predetermined number of game medals are paid out to the lower plate 15.

(Medal tank 5)
The medal tank 5 is located at the lower part of the gaming machine 1 and stores game medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 10 inside as shown by the dotted line in FIG. In the lower part of the medal tank 5, although not shown, a sending disc having a circular hole into which a game medal can be inserted is arranged around the medal tank 5. By rotating the delivery disk, the game medals that have entered the circular hole can be discharged to the lower plate 15 one by one.
(Medal selector 6)
The medal selector 6 is located inside the gaming machine 1 on the lower side of the medal insertion slot 10, for discriminating the inserted game medals and counting the regular game medals as the game start conditions. is there.

(Medal lending machine 2)
The medal lending machine 2 is a so-called inter-machine machine for gaming machines that is disposed between the gaming machines 1 and is a box-type device that is installed adjacent to the side surface side of the gaming machine 1. The medal lending machine 2 is for lending game medals in exchange for money, and for lending medals and game medals inserted by the player into the medal slot 10 of the gaming machine 1.
The medal lending machine 2 includes an outer box 20, a banknote counter 22 for detecting and storing inserted banknotes, and an openable / closable lid 4 that can be opened and closed by tilting forward to insert game medals into the medal lending machine 2. A lending medal hopper 26 that stores game medals thrown from the opening / closing lid 4, a game medal inside the lending medal hopper 26, and a game medal thrown into a collective throw opening 31 described later can be thrown into the gaming machine 1. A suitable transport device 3.

The opening / closing lid 4 is located at the upper part on the front side of the medal lending machine 2 and is normally closed with a predetermined key (not shown) as shown by the solid line in FIG. As shown by the dotted line in FIG. 2, when the key is opened, the front side is tilted toward the front side and opened upward, so that a game medal can be inserted. This game medal is rented to a player and transferred to the gaming machine 1.
The rented medal hopper 26 also has a role as a rented medal payout device for renting out the stored game medals according to the bills inserted into the bill counter 22. A rental disk 27 is formed in the rental medal hopper 26 so that game medals can be sent one by one.

The banknote counter 22 reads banknotes inserted from a banknote insertion slot 21 provided at the lower front of the outer box 20, and stores the inserted banknotes. Then, when the banknote counter 22 reads the banknote, a predetermined number of game medals are paid out to the transport device 3 through the payout passage 42 by the rental disk 27 of the rental medal hopper 26 as a rental medal payout device. Is formed.
In this embodiment, the bill is inserted so that a magnetic card may be used instead of the bill.
Although not shown in particular, the bill counter 22 includes a bill sensor that detects a bill inserted into the bill insertion slot 21 and outputs a bill detection signal. The lending medal hopper 26 as the lending medal payout device is for lending a game medal to the player with the input of a bill detection signal from the bill sensor.

The medal lending machine 2 may have a coin insertion slot, a coin counter, a change dispensing slot, and the like in addition to the banknote insertion slot 21 and the banknote counter 22. Moreover, you may have a prepaid card slot and a card reader.
The lending medal hopper 26 serving as the lending medal payout device is for lending a game medal to the player with the output of the bill detection signal of the bill sensor. The rented medal hopper 26 is a so-called hopper device for paying out game medals, and a medal hopper for storing game medals and a game medal stored in the medal hopper can be discharged one by one. A rental disk 27 is provided. The rental disk 27 is rotatably supported by a drive motor, and has a hole into which a game medal can enter. And it forms in the mechanism which can discharge | emit the game medal which entered this hole one by one outside the apparatus with rotation. The rental medal hopper 26 is provided with a sensor for counting the number of discharged medals, and is configured to stop the drive motor after paying out a predetermined number of game medals.

(Transfer device 3)
The transfer device 3 is for inserting game medals into the medal insertion slot 10 of the gaming machine 1, and the game medals paid out from the rented medal hopper 26 and the player inserts into a collective insertion opening 31 described later. This is a mechanism for transporting game medals to the side transfer passage 12 continuous with the medal slot 10 of the gaming machine 1.
Specifically, the transport device 3 includes a main body cover 30 attached to the front surface of the outer box 20 of the medal lending machine 2, and a medal feed provided inside the main body cover 30 for feeding out game medals by the belt 53. An apparatus 40 (FIG. 4), and an inlet introduction path 60 for guiding a game medal attached to the front side of the main body cover 30 and sent out from the medal feeder 40 to the side transfer passage 12 of the gaming machine 1; A belt operation switch 273 for operating the belt 53 of the medal feeder 40, a determination control means 500 for determining whether or not the operation of the belt 53 is performed within a predetermined time, Drive control means 280 for controlling rotation of the belt 53, opening / closing of an opening / closing hole 85 of the discharge mechanism 80 described later, and a closing means 300 described later is provided.

(Main unit cover 30)
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the main body cover 30 is on the near side from the front center of the outer box 20 of the medal lending machine 2 (the near side when the gaming machine 1 is viewed from the front). It is a protruding box-shaped member, and is opened upward to form a batch insertion opening 31 capable of receiving a plurality of game medals. As shown in FIG. 1, a medal feeding device 40 is accommodated therein. .
Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a counter-like overhanging portion 32 having a flat portion on the upper surface is formed on the front side of the collective charging opening 31. The projecting portion 32 projects toward the front side and the side of the collective charging opening 31, and is formed in a substantially U shape when viewed from above. Further, a standing portion 272 is formed around the collective charging opening 31 so as to stand in a U shape extending from both sides to the front as viewed from above. The collective loading opening 31 is set so as to be positioned above the dropping hole 271 of the receiving loading portion 48 of the main body block 41 described later, and as a result, the standing portion 272 is positioned above the dropping hole 271. Is formed.

  Further, on the front side of the overhanging portion 32 of the conveying device 3, a belt operation switch 273 which is rectangular and is made of conductive metal for activating and deactivating the belt conveying device 50 is laid. . The belt operation switch 273 is for operating the belt 53. By touching the belt operation switch 273 of the overhanging portion 32, the drive motor 55 of the belt conveying device 50 is driven, and by releasing the hand touching the belt operation switch 273 of the overhanging portion 32, the belt conveying device 50 is released. The drive motor 55 is configured to stop driving. Specifically, when the belt operation switch 273 is operated for less than a predetermined time, three game medals are sent to the side transfer passage 12, and the belt operation switch 273 is continuously operated for a predetermined time or more. Then, more than three game medals are formed to be sent out to the side transfer passage 12.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, a medal removal tray 90 having a discharge storage portion 93 that receives a foreign matter discharged from the medal feeder 40 or a canceled medal is formed on the back side of the bottom of the main body cover 30. Yes. This medal removal tray 90 is located below the opening / closing hole 85 on the front surface of the medal lending machine 2, and when the opening / closing hole 85 of the discharge mechanism 80 is opened, the medal storage unit 44 received through the opening / closing hole 85 is provided. The game medal can be taken out from the outside. As shown by the dotted line in FIG. 1, the medal removal tray 90 is pivotally supported by a tray hinge 95 so as to be pivotable in the vertical direction on the back side of the bottom of the main body cover 30. Normally, it is in a closed state as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 1 and is formed so as to be able to store discharged trash etc. When the game hall manager collects trash etc., the solid line in FIG. As shown in the figure, it is formed so that the stored matter can be easily taken out by hand from the near side by rotating to the near side.

A rotation display unit 240 that displays the operating state of the belt 53 is formed on the front surface on the upper back side of the overhang portion 32.
(Rotation display 240)
The rotation display unit 240 is for displaying the operating state of the belt 53 of the transfer unit 200 and the open / closed state of the opening / closing hole 85 of the discharge mechanism 80 toward the player. As shown in FIG. 3, the rotation display unit 240 is formed at a position that is visible to the player on the front side on the back side of the overhanging portion 32. The rotation display unit 240 displays an operating state of the belt 53 and a discharge mechanism 80 described later by a combination of lighting and extinguishing of the three light emitters.

(Medal feeder 40)
The medal feeding device 40 is a device for feeding out game medals stored in the main body cover 30.
As shown in FIG. 1, the medal feeder 40 includes a box-shaped main body block 41 provided inside the main body cover 30, and a belt transport device 50 (a transfer unit) that transports game medals into the main body block 41. 200) and a discharge mechanism 80 that discharges remaining game medals and the like that are located below the back side of the belt conveyance device 50.
(Main body block 41)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the main body block 41 has a receiving input portion 48 that opens upward at a substantially central portion in the length direction. The receiving and inserting portion 48 is provided with a drop hole 271 that is opened in a quadrangle and allows a game medal to drop. A payout passage 42 that opens upward and communicates with the receiving input portion 48 is provided inside the receiving input portion 48. A game medal from the lending medal hopper 26 is inserted into a portion opened above the payout passage 42.

  A medal storage unit 44 for temporarily storing game medals inserted from the receiving input unit 48 or the payout passage 42 is formed below the receiving input unit 48. Further, in the lower front part of the main body block 41, a transfer unit 200 (belt transport device 50) having a belt 53 for transferring game medals in the medal storage unit 44 is incorporated. The front side of the main body block 41 is a medal discharge unit 47 for discharging game medals sent out by the belt conveying device 50 one by one to the insertion port introduction path 60. A discharge mechanism 80 having an openable / closable opening / closing hole 85 is provided at the bottom of the inner wall forming the payout passage 42 and on the bottom surface of the medal storage portion 44.

  As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4, and FIG. 7, the receiving insertion portion 48 is an opening for receiving game medals inserted from the collective insertion opening 31, and is provided in the lateral direction at a substantially central portion of the opening width. The partition bar 100 is provided. This is to align the inserted game medals in the same direction as much as possible. In other words, the presence of the partition rod 100 prevents a game medal from being inserted in the receiving and inserting section 48 in a vertical orientation (a direction in which the front and back surfaces of the game medal are in the horizontal direction). Is turned sideways (the direction in which the front and back sides of the game medal are in the front-rear direction) and dropped. When dropped in this way, the direction of the game medals is aligned, so the game medals can be stored in a stack in the medal storage part 44, which is a space located below the receiving insertion part 48. The belt conveying device 50 facilitates conveyance.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, at the front side end portion of the receiving and inserting unit 48, an upper space of the belt conveying device 50 is formed by a medal storage unit 44 positioned below the receiving and inserting unit 48 and the medal storage unit 44. Further, a movement adjusting valve 43 is attached which is divided into a medal return portion 45 located on the front side. The movement adjustment valve 43 prevents the movement of medals from the medal storage unit 44 to the medal return unit 45, and allows the movement of medals from the medal return unit 45 to the medal storage unit 44 as appropriate, thereby transferring the medal by the belt conveying device 50. This is to make the process smooth.
The payout passage 42 is for accepting a game medal from the lending medal hopper 26 of the medal lending machine 2 and guiding it to the medal storage unit 44. The bottom surface of the payout passage 42 is inclined downward from the back side toward the near side, and an opening / closing hole 85 that can be opened and closed by an opening / closing plate 82 is formed at the front end portion of the inclination. When the opening / closing plate 82 closes the opening / closing hole 85, game medals are stored in the medal storage section 44. When the opening / closing plate 82 is opened from the opening / closing hole 85, foreign matter such as dust or remaining game medals on the medal storage unit 44 or the belt 53 of the belt conveying device 50 falls from the cancel passage 49. Foreign matter and game medals that have fallen from the cancel passage 49 are temporarily stored in the medal takeout plate 90, and can be taken out by opening the medal takeout plate 90 to the front as shown in FIG. It has become.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the medal removal tray 90 is pivotally supported by a lower portion of the transport device 3 so as to be rotatable by a tray hinge 95. As shown by the dotted line in FIG. 1, a discharge storage portion 93 capable of storing a canceled medal, a foreign object, dust, or the like is formed in the state where the medal removal tray 90 is closed. Further, although not particularly shown, the medal removal tray 90 is formed so as to be automatically closed after being opened by a self-returning mechanism. The self-return mechanism includes a spring that biases the medal removal tray 90 in the closing direction, and the medal removal tray 90 is normally closed. Then, by pulling down the medal removal tray 90 in the opening direction against the biasing force of the spring, that is, the front side, the discharge storage portion 93 of the medal removal tray 90 is opened as shown in FIG. When opening the medal removal tray 90, the game medals and the like stored in the discharge storage section 93 are received by hand while holding the medal removal tray 90. When the stored matter is completely discharged, the medal removal tray 90 is automatically closed by releasing the hand from the medal removal tray 90. Of course, the medal removal tray 90 may be temporarily fixed by the concavo-convex portion in two stages of the closed state and the open state without providing such a self-returning mechanism.

(Moving adjustment valve 43)
As shown in FIG. 5, the movement adjusting valve 43 has a configuration in which a rectangular rotating plate 43A is attached to a support portion 43B having pins 46 protruding laterally from both ends. The pins 46 are engaged with holes formed on both side surfaces of the main body block 41 so as to be rotatable in the front-rear direction around the pins 46.
Further, a stopper 43C (FIGS. 1 and 7) is provided on the inner surface of the main body block 41 so as to abut on the medal return portion 45 side of the movement adjustment valve 43 in a state where the movement adjustment valve 43 is suspended. Accordingly, the movement adjustment valve 43 can be rotated from the suspended state to the medal storage unit 44 side, but is prevented from rotating from the suspended state to the medal return unit 45 side.

The rotating plate 43A is formed of an elastic member such as urethane, and is elastically deformed by a predetermined pressure or more. Further, the movement adjustment valve 43 is such that the distance from the lower end of the rotation plate 43A to the upper surface of the belt 53 of the belt conveying device 50 described later is longer than the diameter of the game medal when the rotation plate 43A is in the suspended state. Is formed. This is to allow the game medal to pass under the rotating plate 43A even when standing up.
(Transfer unit 200 (belt transport device 50))
The transfer unit 200 (belt transport device 50) is built in the lower front part of the main body block 41, and the game medals thrown into or out of the medal storage unit 44 are placed in a horizontal state (the front and back surfaces of the game medals are up and down). In such a state that the front or back side of the game medal faces upward or downward), one by one through the insertion port introduction path 60 to the medal discharge port 66. is there. Specifically, the transfer unit 200 (belt transport device 50) is stretched between a pair of rollers 51 (the near side roller 51A and the back side roller 51B) and the near side roller 51A and the back side roller 51B. A belt 53 (transfer means), a reverse roller 52 (return means) installed with a delivery gap 54 above the front side of the belt 53, a drive motor 55 for rotating the rollers 51, 52, and this drive A transmission means 56 (FIG. 4) for transmitting the rotation of the motor shaft of the motor 55 to the rollers 51 and 52 is provided.

The roller 51 is provided in parallel in the front-rear direction as viewed from the front side. The belt 53 is a flat belt stretched around two rollers 51A and 51B, and the surface thereof is covered with rubber or the like so as to increase the frictional resistance with the game medal. As shown in FIG. 1, the front roller 51A is mounted at a slightly higher position than the back roller 51B, so that the upper surface of the belt 53 is inclined slightly upward toward the front. By rotating the roller 51 in the direction of the black arrow shown in FIG. 1 (the arrow whose inside is painted black), the upper surface of the belt 53 is moved forward.
The roller 51 and the reverse roller 52 are rotated simultaneously by a transmission means 56 (FIG. 4). The transmission means 56 is a drive shaft of the drive motor 55, a gear provided on the near side roller 51A, the reverse rotation roller 52, and a belt connecting these gears. The reverse rotation roller 52 is in the same direction as the roller 51. Since it rotates, the traveling direction of the upper surface of the belt 53 and the moving direction of the lower surface of the reverse rotation roller 52 are reversed. Further, the rotation speed of the reverse rotation roller 52 is formed to be faster than the rotation speed of the roller 51 by adjusting the transmission means 56 (a combination of gears having different diameters).

  As shown in FIG. 1, a delivery gap 54 is formed between the lower end of the reverse rotation roller 52 and the upper surface of the belt 53, which is larger than the thickness of one game medal and smaller than the thickness of two game medals. Has been. For this reason, when a plurality of game medals are stacked on the reverse rotation roller 52 and are conveyed to the reverse rotation roller 52 side, the game medals above the second one are left, leaving the bottom one game medal. The kick roller is kicked backward by the reversing reverse roller 52. As a result, the game medals on the upper surface of the belt 53 are sent one by one to the front side, and the game medals above the belt 53 and behind the reverse rotation roller 52 are kicked out to the medal return section 45. It has become.

As shown in FIG. 5, the reverse rotation roller 52 in the present embodiment is formed with a stirring groove 58 having a substantially trapezoidal cross section along the axial direction. The stirring groove 58 plays a role of effectively kicking back the game medals stacked above the belt 53 so that the game medals are hooked at the end of the groove.
The front side of the belt 53 is close to the medal receiving port 67 of the insertion port introduction path 60. The game medals on the upper surface of the belt 53 are carried from the medal discharge unit 47 to the insertion port introduction path 60 through the delivery gap 54.
Although not particularly illustrated, a protrusion that protrudes from the side wall surface of the belt 53 toward the belt 53 after passing through the attachment position of the reverse rotation roller 52 in the middle of feeding from the belt 53 to the insertion port introduction path 60. A body may be formed. This projecting body projects the effective width that the belt 53 can convey so as to match the diameter of the game medal to be used. When the game medals on the belt 53 come into contact with the projecting body, the game medals can be transferred to a predetermined position.

The transfer unit 200 rotates the belt 53 in the forward direction (forward rotation, that is, in the black arrow direction in FIG. 1), thereby transferring the game medal to the insertion port 60 and the belt 53 in the reverse direction (reverse rotation, In other words, the game medals are placed in either the reverse feed direction in which the game medals are fed back to the medal storage section 44 on the opposite side of the insertion port introduction path 60 by performing the reverse rotation direction of the black arrow direction in FIG. It is configured to be transportable. That is, when the belt 53 is rotated in the forward direction, the transfer unit 200 transfers the material on the belt 53 to the introduction port 60, and when the belt 53 is reversed, the material on the belt 53 is transferred to the opening / closing hole 85. It is formed to do.
That is, the belt conveyance device 50 is configured to send out game medals on the belt 53 from the front end of the belt 53 to the insertion port introduction path 60 that continues to the medal insertion port 10 when the belt 53 rotates forward. The belt conveying device 50 is configured such that game medals on the belt 53 can be dropped from the rear end of the belt 53 to the cancel passage 49 and discharged to the outside when the belt 53 is reversed.

When the belt 53 of the transfer unit 200 is reversely rotated, the reverse rotation roller 52 is formed so as not to rotate by an internal mechanism.
The determination control means 500 described later determines whether or not the operation of the belt 53 is performed within a predetermined time. The conveying device 3 is configured to reverse the belt 53 when the result of the determination by the determination control means 500 is that the belt 53 has not been operated for a predetermined time.
(Discharge mechanism 80)
The discharge mechanism 80 includes a solenoid 81 that moves up and down a substantially cylindrical movable shaft 83 that protrudes upward in accordance with an energized state, and one end that is pivotally supported by the movable shaft 83. An opening / closing plate 82 is formed so as to be swingable in the vertical direction with a fixed shaft 84 as a fulcrum. The opening / closing hole 85 is located between the medal storage part 44 and the cancellation passage 49 and can open and close the cancellation passage 49. Then, the opening / closing hole 85 is formed to be openable / closable by rotating the opening / closing plate 82 about the fixed shaft 84.

When the movable shaft 83 is positioned below, the open / close plate 82 is closed (see FIG. 1). When the movable shaft 83 is positioned above, the open / close plate 82 is open (see FIG. 7). It is formed so that. Then, by opening the opening / closing plate 82 by the operation of the solenoid 81, game medals or foreign matters in the medal feeder 40 can be discharged from the cancel passage 49 formed on the bottom surface of the main body block 41. ing. The discharge mechanism 80 can be formed such that the opening / closing plate 82 is opened by operating a reset switch (not shown), for example.
The conveyance device 3 according to the present embodiment reverses the belt 53 when the belt 53 has not been operated for a predetermined time as a result of the determination by the determination control unit 500, but during the reverse rotation of the belt 53, the opening / closing plate 82 of the discharge mechanism 80 Is set to open. As a result, by reverse rotation of the belt 53, foreign matter or the like on the upper surface of the belt 53 can be dropped into the discharge storage portion 93 of the medal tray 90 via the cancel passage 49.

(Input port introduction path 60)
The introduction port 60 is provided near the medal insertion port 10 of the gaming machine 1 so that the gaming medal can be introduced from the side of the gaming machine 1 in order to introduce the gaming medal into the medal insertion port 10 of the gaming machine 1. The game medal is guided from the transfer unit 200 to the side transfer passage 12 that guides to the insertion port 10. That is, the insertion port introduction path 60 is for transferring the game medals sent from the transfer unit 200 (belt transport device 50) to the medal insertion port 10 of the gaming machine 1.
The insertion port introduction path 60 includes a base member 62 attached to the lower portion on the front side of the main body cover 30, a passage portion 65 having a medal transfer slit that is positioned on the front side of the base member 62 and through which a game medal can pass, Via a hinge 63 (FIG. 6) provided at the lower end of the base member 62, a cover member 61 rotatably attached to the base member 62 and a passage visible from a visible portion 210 (FIG. 3) described later. A light emitting unit capable of irradiating the unit 65.

The insertion port introduction path 60 is installed such that the medal discharge port 66 is aligned with the end of the side transfer passage 12 of the medal insertion port 10 of the gaming machine 1. In this case, the medal discharge port 66 and the end of the side transfer passage 12 do not necessarily abut and coincide with each other, and the gap between the game medal discharged from the medal discharge port 66 and the side transfer passage 12 can be moved. There may be a height error.
(Passage section 65)
The passage portion 65 is for guiding game medals falling from the belt 53 to the side transfer passage 12. The passage portion 65 is located on the front side of the base member 62, a movable plate 250 that is movable on the front side of the fixed plate 251, and a lower portion of the fixed plate 251, so that the game It has a projecting portion 252 that projects to the near side by a width slightly larger than the thickness of one medal.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, a protrusion 252 is sandwiched between the fixed plate 251 and the movable plate 250 and has a thickness slightly larger than the thickness of one game medal, which is larger than the diameter of the game medal. By having a slightly larger width, a passage portion 65 capable of transferring game medals is formed. The passage portion 65 is formed by a fixed plate 251, a movable plate 250, and a protrusion 252 that form a medal transfer slit through which a game medal can pass.
The passage portion 65 is bent in a substantially L shape from the medal receiving port 67 toward the gaming machine 1, and an end thereof serves as a medal discharge port 66. In other words, the passage unit 65 receives the game medals discharged from the medal discharge unit 47 from the medal receiving port 67, and one by one from the medal discharge port 66 through the side transfer passage 12, the medal insertion port 10 of the gaming machine 1. It is designed to discharge toward the side.

(Fixed plate 251)
The fixing plate 251 is fixed to the front side of the base member 62 and is formed in a substantially L shape in a front view. As shown in FIG. 1, the upper end portion of the fixed plate 251 is a curved portion 62A that curves in the back direction from the bottom to the top, and this curved portion 62A is connected to the medal discharge portion 47 of the medal feeder 40. A medal receiving port 67 communicating therewith is formed.
(Movable plate 250)
The movable plate 250 is positioned on the front side of the fixed plate 251 and forms a wall on the near side of the passage portion 65. All the movable plates 250 of the passage portion 65 are made of transparent resin. The movable plate 250 is pivotally supported so as to be rotatable slightly below the upper end of the side end of the movable plate 250 (specifically, at a position one fifth of the total height of the movable plate 250 from the upper end). A movable plate rotating shaft (not shown) is formed. The movable plate rotating shaft is formed with a spring that pulls the upper end of the movable plate 250 toward the front side and biases the lower end toward the rear side. Normally, since the lower end of the movable plate 250 is in contact with the protruding portion 252, the movable plate 250 maintains a state in which it is erected in the vertical direction. When a clogging release button 260, which will be described later, is pressed, the clogging release button 260 pushes the upper part of the movable plate 250 into the back side. Rotate the side and bottom edge toward you. As a result, when game medals are clogged inside the passage portion 65 between the movable plate 250 and the fixed plate 251, a gap between the lower end of the movable plate 250 and the fixed plate 251 is opened. The clogged medal outlet 68 of the cover member 61 is discharged to the outside.

Further, on the front side of the movable plate 250, a passage sensor 231 is provided as a clogging detection unit 230 capable of detecting the passage of game medals.
(Clogging detection means 230 (passage sensor 231))
The clogging detection means 230 is a passage sensor 231 composed of a proximity switch (sensor) that detects the proximity of a game medal and the presence or absence of a nearby detection target in a non-contact manner. The presence information that the game medal does not move can be detected.
Here, the passing sensor 231 uses an inductive proximity switch that generates a magnetic field in the detection region as a proximity switch, but is not particularly limited to this, and other types of proximity switches are used. You can do it. For example, a capacitive proximity switch that generates an electric field in the detection region may be used as the passing sensor 231, or an ultrasonic proximity switch that generates an ultrasonic wave in the detection region may be used. In addition, a photoelectric proximity switch that detects a game medal by reflection or shading of visible or invisible light may be used, and a magnetic flux when a game medal approaches by a combination of a magnetic detection element and a magnet. A magnetic proximity switch that detects changes by using changes may be used.

  Here, although not specifically shown, the passage sensor 231 is provided at a position slightly shifted in the width direction from the center of the passage width of the passage portion 65, so that a plurality of circular game medals pass in a continuous state. However, the detection signal of the passage sensor 231 always repeats a certain waveform. Therefore, by monitoring this waveform in the control unit of the medal lending machine 2, an abnormality in medal transfer can be detected. For example, when the passage sensor 231 continues to detect game medals, it is assumed that game medals are jammed inside the passage portion 65. In such a case, it is preferable to issue an alarm or the like for pressing the clog release button 260 to cancel the clogging of medals.

  On the other hand, if the passing sensor 231 does not detect game medals for a predetermined time or more, the medal feeding device depends on whether all the inserted game medals have been sent or whether a medal clogging has occurred in the belt conveyance device 50 or the like. A case where 40 does not send out a game medal or a case where the movable plate 250 is movable and is out of the detection range of the passage sensor 231 is assumed. Therefore, in such a case, the driving of the driving motor 55 of the belt conveying device 50 is stopped, or the rotation of the belt 53 is reversed. In such a case, control is performed so that the drive motor 55 is not driven even if the belt operation switch 273 is turned ON.

(Cover member 61)
The cover member 61 is rotatable about a hinge 63 below the cover member 61 and covers the front surface of the passage portion 65.
The hinge 63 (FIG. 6) can pivotally support the cover member 61 and the base member 62 in a rotatable manner. Locking means 290 for locking the cover member 61 to the base member 62 side is provided so that both the cover member 61 and the base member 62 are not opened. The locking means 290 is located on the lower surface side of the main body cover 30 above the insertion port introduction path 60 and the anchor claw-shaped locking portion 291 (FIG. 6) provided on the upper back side of the cover member 61. An anchor claw-like portion of the stop portion 291 is formed from a non-locking portion 292 (FIG. 6) that can be locked. The locking portion 291 has an insertion piece opening that opens near the center in the width direction. And this latching | locking part 291 is formed from soft resin, and is formed so that elastic deformation is possible.

On the clogging release button 260 (described later) of the cover member 61, as shown in FIG. 3, there is an unlocking hole 293 that opens on the front and back sides and releases the locking state of the locking means 290 described above. Is formed. By inserting a strip-like insertion piece such as a key or a rod-like screwdriver into the locking release hole 293, the insertion piece pushes the upper surface of the above-described insertion piece opening downward. As a result, the inserted insertion piece elastically deforms the locking portion 291 downward, and the anchor claw-shaped locking portion 291 is disengaged from the non-locking portion 292. As a result, the locked state of the locking means 290 can be released.
The cover member 61 includes a visible portion 210 that allows the passage portion 65 to be visually recognized from the player side. As shown in FIG. 3, the visible portion 210 uses a transparent resin material and is formed so that the passage portion 65 can be seen from the outside through the visible portion 210. A clogging release button 260 for moving the movable plate 250 is formed on the upper portion of the cover member 61.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, a clogged medal outlet 68 that opens downward is formed in the lower portion of the cover member 61. This clogged medal outlet 68 is opened to move the movable plate 250 when the clogging release button 260 is pressed and to discharge the game medals clogged between the movable plate 250 and the fixed plate 251 to the outside. It is.
(Clogging release button 260)
The clog release button 260 pushes the upper part of the movable plate 250 to rotate the movable plate 250 when the game medals are jammed in the passage portion 65, and removes the game medals jammed in the passage portion 65 below the clogged medal. It is for discharging from the outlet 68.

(Occlusion means 300)
The closing means 300 is provided in the batch loading opening 31 of the transfer device 3 and can block the batch loading opening 31. The closing means 300 is formed so as to close the closing means 300 when the belt 53 is reversely rotated.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, the closing means 300 is normally housed inside the upper surface of the main body cover 30, but as shown in FIG. Projecting to the portion 48, the receiving insertion portion 48 and the collective insertion opening 31 are closed, and the acceptance of game medals is rejected.

The closing means 300 is capable of closing the receiving input portion 48 and the collective input opening 31 of the transport device 3. The closing means 300 is set to operate according to a control signal from the drive control means 280. When it is determined that the current state is the reverse rotation state of the belt 53, the drive control means 280 operates to close the closing means 300.
This closing means 300 improves the safety by closing the receiving and inserting portion 48 and the collective throwing opening 31 during the reverse rotation of the belt 53 and preventing a finger or the like from entering the collective throwing opening 31. In addition, it is possible to prevent the foreign matter from being thrown in when the belt 53 is reversed, and to reliably discharge the foreign matter in the transport device 3. Further, in the case described above, the closing means 300 closes the accepting and throwing portion 48 and the collective throwing opening 31 so that the player mistakenly throws a game medal as a game start condition into the accepting and throwing portion 48. This is to prevent this from happening.

  Specifically, the closing means 300 is provided on the main body cover 30 adjacent to the receiving input portion 48 at the upper part of the medal feeder 40. The closing means 300 is formed so as to block the batch loading opening 31 of the main body cover 30 and at the same time block the receiving and loading portion 48 leading to the batch loading opening 31. The blocking means 300 includes a columnar blocking solenoid 311 formed on the main body cover 30 adjacent to the receiving input portion 48, a rod-shaped blocking advance / retreat rod 312 that moves forward and backward in response to a control signal input from the blocking solenoid 311, A rectangular plate-shaped closing shutter 310 that is fixed to the back side of the closing advance / retreat rod 312 and matches the shape of the opening of the receiving input portion 48 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the closing means 300 is not in operation, the closing advance / retreat bar 312 enters the inside of the closing solenoid 311, and the closing shutter 310 is also moved from the batch closing opening 31 and the receiving closing portion 48. It comes off. In such a case, the accepting / inserting unit 48 is in an open state, and a state where a game medal can be inserted is possible. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, when the closing means 300 is operating, the closing advance / retreat bar 312 protrudes from the closing solenoid 311 toward the back side, and the closing shutter 310 has the collective opening 31 and It will be in the state which covers the whole surface of the acceptance insertion part 48. FIG. In such a case, the receiving insertion portion 48 and the collective insertion opening 31 are in a closed state, and a gaming medal cannot be inserted. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the game medal from being erroneously inserted from the receiving input unit 48 during the supply of the game medal.

When closing the closing shutter 310 of the closing means 300, a warning to that effect may be given to the player by various notifying means such as a lamp or sound. As a result, the safety when closing the closing shutter 310 of the closing means 300 can be increased.
(Drive control means 280)
The drive control means 280 is for controlling the rotational drive of the belt 53 of the transfer unit 200 of the transport device 3, the opening / closing of the opening / closing hole 85 of the discharge mechanism 80, the closing means 300, and the like. This drive control means 280 can be operated based on the input / output result of a control circuit or the like disposed therein, and the belt 53 of the transfer unit 200 can be moved by contact with the belt operation switch 273 by the player. It is what is enabled.

As shown in FIG. 2, the drive control unit 280 is fixed to the back side of the transport device 3 together with the determination control unit 500. The drive control means 280 and the judgment control means 500 may be fixed inside the outer box 20 without being fixed to the back side of the transport device 3.
The drive control means 280 is configured to reverse the belt 53 when the result of the judgment by the judgment control means 500 is that the belt 53 has not been operated for a predetermined time.
(Judgment control means 500)
The determination control means 500 is for determining whether or not the operation of the belt 53 is performed within a predetermined time.

The determination control unit 500 determines whether or not the belt 53 is operating based on whether or not the drive signal of the belt 53 of the belt conveying device 50 from the drive control unit 280 is output. Such a drive signal is output from the drive control means 280 when a bill is inserted from the bill insertion slot 21 or the belt operation switch 273 is operated.
The determination control unit 500 includes a number storage device that counts and stores the number of reverse rotations of the belt 53, and a timer device that counts time from a predetermined trigger. The number of reverse rotations of the belt 53 stored in this number storage device is not the number of rotations of the belt 53 but the number of drive signals for reverse rotation from the drive control means 280 to the belt 53. The belt 53 starts reverse rotation and continues reverse rotation continuously for a predetermined time, and then a series of reverse rotation operations of the belt 53 until the reverse rotation is stopped after the predetermined time elapses. Is the number of times. The number of reverse rotations of the belt 53 is reset to 0 when a forward drive signal for the belt 53 is input.

Further, the timer device counts the time from when the drive signal for forward rotation of the belt 53 of the belt conveyance device 50 is lost. The timer device counts the time from when the driving signal for the forward rotation of the belt 53 is lost. Specifically, the timer device inputs the driving signal for the previous forward rotation of the belt 53. The time from is counted.
The predetermined predetermined time determined by the determination control means 500 is that when the belt 53 is rotated for the first time, the drive signal for the belt 53 is lost. It is set to start counting from the time of input. Here, the drive signal of the belt 53 means a drive signal for the belt 53 to rotate forward (in the direction of the black arrow in FIG. 1) by inserting the belt operation switch 273 or bill insertion. The predetermined time determined by the determination control means 500 is set to start counting from the previous reverse rotation of the belt 53 when the reverse rotation of the belt 53 is the second or later.

  Of course, the present invention is not limited to starting the first count from when the driving signal for the belt 53 is lost (specifically, after inputting the previous driving signal for the belt 53). It may be set to start counting for a predetermined time when the predetermined condition is satisfied. For example, the timer device may be set to start counting for a predetermined time from when the medal lending machine 2 is turned on, or set to start counting for a predetermined time from the opening time of the game hall. Alternatively, it may be set to start counting for a predetermined time from when the predetermined count start switch is pressed, or start counting for a predetermined time after the game of the gaming machine 1 is started. You may set as follows. Also, the second count is not limited to starting the count from the start of the reverse rotation of the previous belt 53, and may be set to start the count from the end of the reverse rotation of the previous belt 53. .

The predetermined time that the judgment control means 500 counts is specifically set to 30 minutes. Of course, this time is not limited to 30 minutes, and may be set to a short time such as 10 minutes or 20 minutes, or may be set to a long time such as 1 hour, 2 hours or 6 hours. It can be set. Then, based on the determination result of the determination control unit 500, the transport device 3 causes the drive control unit 280 to reverse the belt 53 when the belt 53 has not been operated for a predetermined time.
Then, the determination control means 500 further determines whether or not the operation of the belt 53 is performed within a predetermined time after the belt 53 is reversed. That is, when the belt 53 is rotated for the second time or later, it is determined whether or not the operation of the belt 53 is performed within a predetermined time period since the previous rotation of the belt 53. The predetermined time is also specifically set to 30 minutes. Of course, this time may also be set to another time as described above.

Note that the first count time and the second and subsequent count times may be set differently. For example, the first count time is the reverse of the belt 53 in a short period of 20 minutes after the drive signal of the belt 53 is lost, and the second count time is 1 hour from the previous reverse rotation of the belt 53. The belt 53 may be set to reverse in a longer time.
Then, after the belt 53 is reversely rotated, the conveying device 3 determines that the belt 53 is not operated when the belt 53 is not operated according to the determination result of the determination control means 500 from the time of the reverse rotation to the elapse of a predetermined time. It is formed to reverse. That is, if the belt 53 is not operated by the belt operation switch 273 or bill insertion for 30 minutes after the drive signal of the belt 53 is lost (after the previous drive signal is input), the belt 53 is reversed. Further, when the belt 53 is not operated for 30 minutes from the reverse rotation of the belt 53, the reverse rotation of the belt 53 is performed. Further, when the belt 53 is not continuously operated, the belt 53 is reversely rotated every 30 minutes from the time when the belt is reversely rotated.

(Transfer of game medals)
Next, the process of transferring game medals in the transport apparatus 3 having the above configuration will be described.
When the player inserts a plurality of game medals from the batch insertion opening 31, the inserted game medals are stored in the medal storage unit 44. When the player inserts a bill from the bill insertion slot 21, the bill counter 22 detects the bill, and a predetermined number of game medals are lent out from the rental medal hopper 26 via the payout passage 42. The game medals that have passed through the payout passage 42 are stored in the medal storage unit 44.
When the player depresses the belt operation switch 273, the belt 53 starts to rotate.

Then, the game medals riding on the upper surface of the rear part of the belt 53 move forward, and the medals stored above the drag medals are also dragged, and move below the movement adjustment valve 43 and move to the medal return unit 45. Here, since the movement adjustment valve 43 does not rotate forward (toward the medal return part) by contacting the stopper 43C, the game medals stored in the upper part of the medal storage part 44 are immediately returned to the medal return part. 45 can prevent snow crumble.
Among the game medals transferred forward by the belt 53, the game medals on the upper surface of the belt 53 pass through the feeding gap 54 between the belt 53 and the lower surface of the reverse rotation roller 52, and the medals are discharged one by one. Transferred to section 47. On the other hand, the game medals overlying the belt 53 are brought into contact with the reverse rotation roller 52 and caught by the stirring groove 58 provided in the reverse rotation roller 52, and are kicked back by the medal return portion 45 at the upper rear part. Since the reverse roller 52 rotates at a higher speed than the roller 51, it is possible to kick out a game medal efficiently.

Here, if the amount of game medals staying in the medal return section 45 is large, it may hinder kicking backward by the reverse rotation roller 52, and there is a possibility that medals are jammed in the delivery gap 54. However, since the movement adjustment valve 43 is pivotably attached to the rear (medal storage part side), the game medals in the medal return part 45 flow backward to the medal storage part 44 and above the medal return part 45. A space is formed. Thereby, the game medal is kicked out smoothly by the reverse rotation roller 52.
The game medals sent out from the transfer unit 200 (belt transport device 50) are discharged from the medal discharge unit 47, are guided to the curved portion 62A of the insertion port introduction path 60, enter the medal receiving port 67, and pass through the passage unit 65. It is discharged from the medal outlet 66. Since the medal discharge port 66 is aligned with the side transfer passage 12 of the medal insertion port 10 of the gaming machine 1, the game medal passes through the side transfer passage 12 of the gaming machine 1 and passes through the medal insertion port of the gaming machine 1. It is thrown into 10 upper throwing openings 11.

A game medal inserted from the medal slot 10 passes through the medal selector 6. The medal selector 6 counts the passing game medals as game medals that are inserted as a game start condition. Then, the game medal is thrown into the medal tank 5 of the gaming machine 1.
Thus, according to this embodiment, in order to insert game medals into the medal slot 10 of the gaming machine 1, the game medals inserted from the batch slot 31 or the rental medal hopper 26 are transferred to the medal slot by the transport device 3. The game medal can be inserted into the gaming machine 1 easily.

  Also, since the transfer device 3 is provided with a movement adjustment valve 43, it is difficult for medal clogging inside the medal feeding device 40 to occur, and even when a medal clogging occurs when ejecting from the medal feeding device 40, the clogging is released. By pressing the button 260 and opening the movable plate 250 downward, the clogging of medals can be easily eliminated. Since the discharge mechanism 80 and the medal removal tray 90 are provided, the remaining medals and foreign matters in the medal feeder 40 can be easily removed. Furthermore, since the agitating groove 58 is formed in the reverse rotation roller 52 of the transport device, game medals staying inside the belt transport device 50 can be sent out efficiently, and medal clogging can be prevented. .

Further, if it is determined that the belt 53 has not been operated for a predetermined time as a result of the determination control unit 500, the drive control unit 280 of the transport device 3 reverses the belt 53 and simultaneously opens and closes the opening / closing plate of the discharge mechanism 80. Make 82 open. As a result, if there is foreign matter such as cigarette butts or dust deliberately thrown from the collective throwing opening 31, the foreign matter is discharged and stored in the medal tray 90 from the opening / closing hole 85 through the cancel passage 49. It can be dropped to the inside of the part 93. As a result, it is possible to take out such foreign matter to the outside of the transport device 3, and it is possible to avoid such foreign matter from causing a failure of the transport device 3.
(Reverse rotation control of belt 53 of transport device 3)
FIG. 10 shows a flow of reverse rotation control of the belt of the transport device.

First, in step 121, it is determined by the judgment control means 500 whether or not the drive signal for the belt 53 of the belt conveying device 50 is output from the drive control means 280. When the determination control unit 500 determines that the drive signal of the belt 53 is not output from the drive control unit 280 and is not input to the determination control unit 500, the process proceeds to the next step 122.
In step 122, the determination control means 500 eliminates the drive signal for the belt 53 (specifically, when the previous drive signal is input for the belt 53), and a predetermined time (specifically, 30). Whether or not (minute) has elapsed. Then, a predetermined time (specifically, 30 minutes) determined in advance from when the driving signal of the belt 53 is lost by the judgment control means 500 (specifically, when the previous driving signal of the belt 53 is input). If it is determined that has passed, the process proceeds to the next step 123.

  In step 123, it is determined whether or not the number of reverse rotations of the belt 53 due to the elapse of a predetermined time is the second and subsequent times after the drive signal of the belt 53 is lost. Note that the number of reverse rotations of the belt 53 in step 123 does not mean the number of actual reverse rotations up to now, but the number of reverse rotations when performed in step 127 after the flow. For example, when the reverse rotation of the belt 53 has already been performed once up to the present after the absence of the forward rotation drive signal, the reverse of the belt 53 in step 123 is performed in step 127 because the reverse rotation is performed for the second time. The number of reverse rotations is set for the second time. If it is determined that the number of reverse rotations of the belt 53 after a predetermined time has passed is the second and subsequent times after the drive signal of the belt 53 is lost, the process proceeds to the next step 124.

In step 124, it is determined whether or not there is a drive signal for the belt 53 of the belt conveying device 50. If it is determined that there is no such drive signal, the process proceeds to the next step 125.
In step 125, the determination control means 500 determines whether or not a predetermined time (specifically, 30 minutes) has elapsed since the previous reverse rotation of the belt 53. When the control unit 500 determines that a predetermined time (specifically, 30 minutes) has elapsed since the previous reverse rotation of the belt 53, the process proceeds to the next step 126.
In step 126, the closing shutter 310 of the closing means 300 protrudes and closes the drop hole 271 and the collective opening 31. Then, the process proceeds to next Step 127.

In step 127, the drive control means 280 causes the roller 51 of the belt conveying device 50 to reversely rotate (the reverse rotation direction with respect to the black arrow rotation direction in FIG. 1) to reversely rotate the belt 53. The reverse rotation time of the belt 53 is performed for a predetermined time, and then the rotation of the belt 53 is stopped and finished. Then, the process proceeds to the next step 128.
In step 128, the closing shutter 310 of the closing means 300 returns to the original closing solenoid 311 side position and is housed therein, and the drop hole 271 and the collective opening 31 are opened. Then, the reverse rotation control of the belt 53 of the transport device 3 ends.
If the determination control means 500 determines in step 121 that the drive signal for the belt 53 is being output, the reverse rotation control for the belt 53 of the transport device 3 ends.

In step 122, the determination control unit 500 eliminates the drive signal for the belt 53 (specifically, from the time when the previous drive signal for the belt 53 was input) for a predetermined time (specifically, If it is determined that (30 minutes) has not elapsed, the reverse rotation control of the belt 53 of the transport device 3 is completed.
If it is determined in step 123 that the number of reverse rotations of the belt 53 after a predetermined time has elapsed is not the second time or more after the drive signal of the belt 53 is lost, that is, if it is determined to be the first time, Proceed to step 126.
If it is determined in step 124 that there is a drive signal (input to the determination control means 500), the reverse rotation control of the belt 53 of the transport device 3 is completed.

In step 125, when the control unit 500 determines that a predetermined time (specifically, 30 minutes) has not elapsed since the previous reverse rotation of the belt 53, the belt 53 of the transport device 3 is determined. The reverse rotation control ends.
When the flow of the reverse rotation control of the belt 53 of the transport device 3 in FIG. 10 is completed, the flow of the reverse rotation control of the belt 53 of the control of the transport device 3 is started again. As a result, until a predetermined time elapses, This means that the reverse rotation control of the belt 53 of the transport device 3 is constantly monitored.
(Function)
In the present embodiment, when the belt 53 has not been operated for a predetermined time based on the determination result of the determination control means 500 (specifically, the drive signal from the drive control means 280 is the predetermined time (30 Minutes) (if not output), the conveying device 3 reverses the belt 53. At that time, the discharge mechanism 80 opens the opening / closing plate 82. As a result, if there is foreign matter or the like that has been thrown in or entered from the batch insertion opening 31 and accumulated on the belt 53, the belt 53 is reversely rotated to remove the foreign matter through the cancel passage 49. It can be stored in the discharge storage section 93 of the tray 90 and can be discharged to the outside of the transport device 3. For this reason, it is possible to prevent such foreign matters and the like from being inserted into the gaming machine 1 from the medal insertion slot 10 or clogging in the path to the medal insertion slot 10.

The reverse rotation of the belt 53 is performed on condition that the belt 53 of the transport device 3 is not operated for a predetermined time. This is a state in which the transfer device 3 is not inserted into the medal insertion slot 10 for a predetermined time, and there is no player attached to the gaming machine 1 and the gaming machine 1 is not used. Alternatively, even if the gaming machine 1 is used, it is not inserted into the medal slot 10 using the transport device 3. Therefore, in this state, even if the belt 53 of the transport device 3 is reversed, it does not interfere with the player's game.
In the present embodiment, by closing the closing means 300 during the reverse rotation of the belt 53, it is possible to prevent a finger or the like from entering from the batch loading opening 31, and safety can be improved. Further, it is possible to prevent foreign matters and game medals from being thrown from the collective loading opening 31 when the belt 53 is reversed, and to reliably discharge foreign matters and the like in the transport device 3.

  In this embodiment, after the belt 53 is reversely rotated and before the elapse of a predetermined time, when the belt 53 is not operated based on the determination result of the determination control unit 500, the conveying device 3 Reverse 53. Then, the discharge mechanism 80 opens the open / close plate 82. In such a case, a game medal is not inserted using the transfer device 3. In such a case, even if foreign matter such as dust enters from the collective loading opening 31 after the belt 53 is reversed and until a predetermined time elapses, the player's game is disturbed. Instead, such foreign matter can be stored in the discharge storage portion 93 of the medal tray 90 via the cancel passage 49, and can be discharged to the outside of the transport device 3. Therefore, it is possible to make the transfer device 3 capable of discharging foreign matter or the like in the transfer device 3 more reliably to the outside of the transfer device 3.

  Here, after the drive signal of the belt 53 is lost (from the time when the previous drive signal of the belt 53 is inputted), the belt 53 is not operated within a predetermined time, or the previous belt 53 If the belt 53 has not been operated within a predetermined time since the reverse rotation, the determination control means 500 determines that the belt 53 has not been operated for a predetermined time, and the drive control means 280 However, the belt 53 is reversed for a predetermined time. If the belt 53 drive signal is generated by operating the belt operation switch 273 or inserting a bill from the bill insertion slot 21 while the belt 53 is rotating in reverse, the drive control means 280 The belt 53 may be formed so as to stop the reverse rotation. In other words, the driving signal for the belt 53 based on the operation of the belt operating switch 273 may be prioritized.

(Second form)
In the first embodiment, the belt 53 is reversed on the condition that the operation of the belt 53 of the conveying device 3 is not performed within a predetermined time. However, in this embodiment, the operation of the belt 53 of the conveying device 3 is The belt 53 of the transfer device 3 is reversed on the condition that both the game of the slot machine as the gaming machine 1 is not performed within a predetermined time. In the following, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.
FIG. 11 shows a second embodiment, and shows a flow of reverse rotation control of the belt 53 of the transport device 3. The contents of FIGS. 1 to 9 described in the first embodiment are the same as those in the second embodiment.

The judgment control means 500 according to this embodiment is for judging whether or not the operation of the belt 53 and the game of the gaming machine 1 are performed within a predetermined time. Then, according to the determination result of the determination control unit 500, the transfer device 3 according to the present embodiment reverses the belt 53 when the belt 53 is not operated for a predetermined time and the gaming machine 1 is not played for a predetermined time. Is formed. Then, according to the determination result of the determination control means 500, the conveyor device 3 according to the present embodiment is configured so that the belt 53 is not operated and the gaming machine 1 is not connected to the game machine until the predetermined time elapses after the belt 53 is reversed. If not, the belt 53 is formed to be reversed.
This will be described more specifically.

The judgment control means 500 is for judging whether the operation of the belt 53 and the game of the gaming machine 1 are performed within a predetermined time.
The determination control means 500 determines whether or not the belt 53 is operating based on whether or not the belt 53 of the belt conveying device 50 is rotating in the forward rotation direction indicated by the black arrow in FIG. Specifically, the determination control unit 500 determines whether or not a rotation drive signal for the belt 53 of the belt conveyance device 50 from the drive control unit 280 is output.
The determination as to whether or not a game of the gaming machine 1 is being performed is based on the game information indicating whether or not a predetermined switch or the like is operated from the control device of the slot machine as the gaming machine 1 500 is done. The predetermined switches of the slot machine here are a closing switch, a bet switch, a start switch, a stop switch, and a checkout switch. The insertion switch is a switch that is located under the medal insertion slot 10 of the slot machine and is turned on when the insertion of a game medal is detected. The operation information of the predetermined switch is transmitted from the control device of the slot machine as the gaming machine 1 to the judgment control means 500 of the medal lending machine 2 through a cable. If any one of the predetermined switches of the slot machine is played within the predetermined time, the determination control unit 500 determines that the gaming machine 1 is playing a game and determines the predetermined time. If none of the predetermined switches are operated, it is determined that the gaming machine 1 is not playing a game.

  The judgment control means 500 is set such that the trigger for starting the above-mentioned predetermined time is different between the first operation of the belt 53 and the second and subsequent operations. When the belt 53 is operated for the first time, the predetermined predetermined time described above is determined by the determination control means 500 to have no drive signal for the belt 53 and no operation signal for the predetermined switch of the gaming machine 1. (The latest drive signal of belt 53 and the latest operation signal of the predetermined switch (start switch, stop switch, closing switch, bet switch, and settlement switch) of gaming machine 1 are input as the latest signal (most recent signal). Has been set to start counting). When any signal is input, the time count of the timer device of the judgment control means 500 is stopped. Then, the count time is reset to 0, and after any of these signals is input, the time count is restarted from 0 again. Then, when the time count of the timer device of the judgment control means 500 exceeds 30 minutes, the belt 53 is reversed. Then, for the predetermined time, when the operation of the belt 53 is performed for the second time or later, the counting is started from the previous reverse rotation of the belt 53. If the counted time exceeds a predetermined time (30 minutes), the belt 53 is reversely rotated. In the meantime, when a driving signal or an operation signal of the belt or a predetermined switch is input. The time count of the timer device of the judgment control means 500 is reset to 0, and the count for the first reversal is restarted again.

  Of course, there is no driving signal for the belt 53 and the operation signal for the predetermined switch of the gaming machine 1 is lost (the previous driving signal of the belt 53, the predetermined switch of the gaming machine 1 (start switch, stop switch, closing switch). , Bet switch and settlement switch) (after the slowest signal (most recent signal) has been input), it is not limited to starting the first count, but other predetermined signals If the above condition is satisfied, it may be set to start counting for a predetermined time. For example, the timer device may be set to start counting for a predetermined time from when the medal lending machine 2 is turned on, or set to start counting for a predetermined time from the opening time of the game hall. Alternatively, it may be set to start counting for a predetermined time from when the predetermined count start switch is pressed, or start counting for a predetermined time after the game of the gaming machine 1 is started. You may set as follows. Also, the second count is not limited to starting the count from the start of the reverse rotation of the previous belt 53, and may be set to start the count from the end of the reverse rotation of the previous belt 53. .

The predetermined time that the judgment control means 500 counts is specifically set to 30 minutes. Of course, this time is not limited to 30 minutes, and may be set to a short time such as 10 minutes or 20 minutes, or may be set to a long time such as 1 hour, 2 hours or 6 hours. It can be set. In the transfer device 3, the belt 53 has not been operated for a predetermined time and the gaming machine 1 has not been played for a predetermined time based on the determination result of the determination control means 500 (the predetermined switch described above is When the operation is not performed for a time, the belt 53 is reversed by the drive control means 280.
Then, the judgment control means 500 starts counting after the belt 53 is reversed, and the operation of the belt 53 is not performed and the gaming machine 1 is not played within a predetermined time. Or not (whether or not the operation information of the predetermined switch from the gaming machine 1 is transmitted). That is, when the belt 53 is rotated for the second time or later, it is determined whether or not the operation of the belt 53 is performed within a predetermined time from the previous rotation of the belt 53, and the gaming machine It is determined whether 1 is played within a predetermined time (the predetermined switch of the gaming machine 1 is not operated). Then, as a result of the determination by the determination control means 500, when the belt 53 is not operated within the predetermined time and the game machine 1 is not being played, the drive control means 280 determines the belt conveyance device 50. The belt 53 is configured to perform reverse rotation. When the belt 53 rotates in the reverse direction, the opening / closing plate 82 of the discharge mechanism 80 is opened. The predetermined time is specifically set to 30 minutes. Of course, this time may also be set to another time as described above.

  In this way, after the belt 53 is reversely rotated, the conveying device 3 determines that the belt 53 has not been operated according to the determination result of the determination control means 500 from the time of the reverse rotation until the elapse of a predetermined time. When the gaming machine 1 is not played for a predetermined time (when a predetermined switch such as a start switch of the gaming machine 1 is not operated), the belt 53 is configured to reverse. As a result, there is no drive signal for the belt 53 and no operation signal for the predetermined switch of the gaming machine 1 (the previous drive signal of the belt 53 or the predetermined switch of the gaming machine 1 (start switch, stop switch, closing switch). , One of the bet switch and the settlement switch), the operation of the belt 53 has not been performed for 30 minutes, and the game machine 1 has been playing. Is not performed (when the above-mentioned predetermined switch is not operated), the belt 53 is reversely rotated, and further, the belt 53 is not operated for 30 minutes from the reverse rotation of the belt 53, and When the gaming machine 1 is not playing a game, the belt 53 is configured to be reversed. Further, when the operation of the belt 53 is not continued and the game machine 1 is not played, the belt 53 is reversed at intervals of 30 minutes from the time when the belt is reversed. Is formed.

(Reverse rotation control of belt 53 of transport device 3)
FIG. 11 is a second embodiment and shows a flow of belt reverse rotation control of the transport device.
First, in step 220, the determination control unit 500 determines whether or not a driving signal for the belt 53 of the belt conveying device 50 is not output. When the determination control unit 500 determines that the driving signal for the belt 53 is not output, the process proceeds to the next step 221.
In step 221, the judgment control means 500 determines whether or not a game signal is input to the judgment control means 500 from the slot machine as the gaming machine 1. Here, the game signal means an operation signal of an operation switch such as a making switch, a bet switch, a start switch, a stop switch, and a settlement switch in the gaming machine 1. Then, when it is determined by the determination control means 500 that no game signal is input from the slot machine as the gaming machine 1 to the determination control means 500, the process proceeds to the next step 222.

  In step 222, when the judgment control means 500 has no drive signal of the belt 53 and no operation signal of the predetermined switch of the gaming machine 1 (the previous driving signal of the belt 53 or the predetermined switch of the gaming machine 1 (start Switch, stop switch, closing switch, checkout switch, bet switch, etc.) (whichever is later) It is determined whether or not. If the determination control means 500 determines that there is no drive signal for the belt 53 and there is no operation signal for the predetermined switch of the gaming machine 1, a predetermined time has elapsed. Proceed to

  In step 223, it is determined whether or not the number of reverse rotations of the belt 53 due to the elapse of a predetermined time is the second and subsequent times after the drive signal of the belt 53 is absent and the operation signal of the predetermined switch of the gaming machine 1 is lost. . Note that the number of reverse rotations of the belt 53 in step 223 means not the number of actual reverse rotations up to the present, but the number of reverse rotations performed in step 227 after the flow. For example, when the reverse rotation of the belt 53 has already been performed once after the absence of the forward rotation drive signal, since the second reverse rotation is performed in step 227 of the flow, the belt 53 in step 223 is The number of reverse rotations is set for the second time. If it is determined that the number of reverse rotations of the belt 53 after the predetermined time has passed is the second or subsequent time since there is no drive signal of the belt 53 and the operation signal of the predetermined switch of the gaming machine 1 is lost. Proceed to 224.

In step 224, it is determined whether or not there is no drive signal for the belt 53 of the belt conveyance device 50 and there is no game signal (operation signal) for a predetermined switch (such as a start switch). If it is determined that neither the drive signal nor the game signal (operation signal) exists, the process proceeds to the next step 225.
In step 225, the determination control means 500 determines whether or not a predetermined time (specifically, 30 minutes) has elapsed since the previous reverse rotation of the belt 53. When the control unit 500 determines that a predetermined time (specifically, 30 minutes) has elapsed since the previous reverse rotation of the belt 53, the process proceeds to the next step 226.

In step 226, the closing shutter 310 of the closing means 300 protrudes to close the drop hole 271 and the collective opening 31. Then, the process proceeds to next Step 227.
In step 227, the drive control means 280 causes the roller 51 of the belt conveying device 50 to reversely rotate (in the reverse rotation direction with respect to the black arrow rotation direction in FIG. 1) to reversely rotate the belt 53. The reverse rotation time of the belt 53 is performed for a predetermined time, and then the rotation of the belt 53 is stopped and finished. Then, the process proceeds to next Step 228.
In step 228, the closing shutter 310 of the closing means 300 is returned to the original position on the closing solenoid 311 side and housed therein, and the drop hole 271 and the collective opening 31 are opened. Then, the reverse rotation control of the belt 53 of the transport device 3 ends.

If the determination control means 500 determines in step 220 that the drive signal for the belt 53 has been output, the reverse rotation control for the belt 53 of the transport device 3 is completed.
If it is determined by the determination control means 500 that the game signal is input from the slot machine as the gaming machine 1 to the determination control means 500 (the operation signal of the predetermined switch is input) in the step 221, The reverse rotation control of the belt 53 of the transport device 3 is finished.
In step 222, if it is determined by the determination control means 500 that there is no drive signal for the belt 53 and that a predetermined time has not elapsed since the operation signal for the predetermined switch of the gaming machine 1 has been lost, The reverse rotation control of the belt 53 of the device 3 ends.

In step 223, when it is determined that the number of reverse rotations of the belt 53 after a predetermined time has elapsed is not the second or subsequent time since there is no drive signal for the belt 53 and there is no operation signal for the predetermined switch of the gaming machine 1, that is, If it is determined to be the first time, the process proceeds to the next step 226.
If it is determined in step 224 that either a drive signal or a game signal (operation signal) is present (input to the determination control means 500), the reverse rotation control of the belt 53 of the transport device 3 is completed. To do.
In step 225, when the control unit 500 determines that a predetermined time (specifically, 30 minutes) has not elapsed since the previous reverse rotation of the belt 53, the belt 53 of the transport device 3 is determined. The reverse rotation control ends.

When the flow of reverse rotation control of the belt 53 of the conveying device 3 in FIG. 11 is completed, the flow of reverse rotation control of the belt 53 of the control of the conveying device 3 is started again. As a result, the reverse rotation of the belt 53 of the conveying device 3 is always performed. You are monitoring control.
(Function)
In the transport device 3 according to the present embodiment, the belt 53 is not operated for a predetermined time based on the determination result of the determination control means 500 (the drive signal for the belt 53 of the belt transport device 50 is not output), and the game When the machine 1 has not been played for a predetermined time (when the predetermined switch of the gaming machine 1 is not operated), the belt 53 of the transport device 3 is reversed. When there is foreign matter or the like that has been put in or entered from the batch opening 31 due to the reverse rotation of the belt 53 and accumulated on the belt 53, such foreign matter or the like can be discharged to the outside of the conveying device 3. For this reason, it is possible to prevent such foreign matters and the like from being inserted into the gaming machine 1 from the medal insertion slot 10 or clogging in the path to the medal insertion slot 10.

The reverse rotation of the belt 53 is performed on condition that the belt 53 of the transport device 3 is not operated for a predetermined time and that the gaming machine 1 is not played for a predetermined time. This is a case where no player is attached to the gaming machine 1 for a predetermined time, and neither the gaming machine 1 nor the transfer device 3 is used. Therefore, in this state, even if the belt 53 of the transport device 3 is reversed, it does not interfere with the player's game.
In this embodiment, after the belt 53 is reversed, the belt 53 is not operated and the gaming machine 1 is played based on the determination result of the determination control means 500 until a predetermined time elapses. If not, the conveying device 3 reverses the belt 53. In such a case, a game medal is not inserted using the transfer device 3, and a game is not performed in the gaming machine 1. In such a case, even if foreign matter such as dust enters from the collective loading opening 31 after the belt 53 is reversed and until a predetermined time elapses, the player's game is disturbed. Therefore, such foreign matter can be discharged to the outside of the transport device 3. Therefore, it is possible to make the transfer device 3 capable of discharging foreign matter or the like in the transfer device 3 more reliably to the outside of the transfer device 3.

  Here, the belt 53 is operated within a predetermined time since there is no driving signal for the belt 53 and the operating signal for the predetermined switch of the gaming machine 1 is lost, or since the previous reverse rotation of the belt 53. If the game machine 1 is not played and the game machine 1 is not played (specifically, the drive signal of the belt 53 is not output and the predetermined switch of the game machine 1 is not operated) The control means 500 determines that the operation of the belt 53 is not performed for a predetermined time, and the drive control means 280 reverses the belt 53 for a predetermined time. While the belt 53 is rotating in the reverse direction, when a driving signal of the belt 53 is output by operating the belt operation switch 273 or inserting a bill from the bill insertion slot 21, or a predetermined switch of the gaming machine 1 When the game is performed by operating the drive control means 280, the reverse of the belt 53 is stopped, and the drive signal of the belt 53 based on the operation of the belt operation switch 273 or the like may be prioritized. good.

  Here, in both the first and second embodiments described above, the belt 53 is set to be able to reverse a plurality of times as the predetermined time elapses. It is also possible to set the belt 53 to reverse only once after the lapse. The above-described flow in such a case can be implemented by omitting steps 123, 124, and 125 in the flow of FIG. 10 and omitting steps 223, 224, and 225 in the flow of FIG.

It is a 1st form of this invention, Comprising: It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows a conveying apparatus. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a gaming machine and a medal lending machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a 1st form of this invention, Comprising: It is an expansion perspective view which shows a conveying apparatus and a medal insertion slot. It is a 1st form of this invention, Comprising: It is an external appearance perspective view which shows a medal feeder. It is a 1st form of this invention, Comprising: It is a longitudinal cross-sectional perspective view which shows a medal feeder. It is a 1st form of this invention, Comprising: It is a partial external appearance perspective view which shows the state which opened the cover member of the medal feeder. It is a 1st form of this invention, Comprising: It is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-section which shows the state which opened the cover member of the medal feeder. It is a 1st form of this invention, Comprising: It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state which opened the closure means of the medal feeder. It is a 1st form of this invention, Comprising: It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state which closed the closure means of the medal feeder. It is a 1st form of this invention, Comprising: It is a flow which shows control of a conveying apparatus. It is a 2nd form of this invention, Comprising: It is a flow which shows control of a conveying apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 Game machine 2 Medal lending machine
3 Transport device 4 Open / close lid
5 Medal tank 6 Medal selector
10 Medal slot 11 Upper slot
12 Side transfer passage 13 Front door
14 Symbol display window 15 Lower plate
16 Operation unit 20 Outer box
21 banknote slot 22 banknote counter
26 Rental medal hopper 27 Rental disk
30 Main unit cover 31 Collective opening
32 Overhang section 40 Medal feeder
41 Body block 42 Dispensing passage
43 Movement adjustment valve 43A Rotating plate
43B Support part 43C Stopper
44 Medal storage 45 Medal return
46 pin 47 medal ejector
48 Acceptance input part 49 Cancel passage
50 Belt conveyor 51 Roller
51A Front roller 51B Back roller
52 Reverse roller 53 Belt
54 Delivery gap 55 Drive motor
56 Transmission means 58 Stirring groove
60 Inlet introduction path 61 Cover member
62 Base member 62A Curved part
63 Hinge 65 Passage
66 Medals outlet 67 Medals receiver
68 Clogged medal outlet 80 Discharge mechanism
81 Solenoid 82 Open / close plate
83 Movable shaft 84 Fixed shaft
85 Opening and closing hole 90 Medal tray
93 Discharge storage 95 Plate hinge
100 Divider 200 Transfer section
210 Visible part 230 Clogging detection means
231 Passing sensor 240 Rotation display
250 Movable plate 251 Fixed plate
252 Projection 260 Clogging release button
271 Drop hole 272 Standing part
273 Belt operation switch 280 Drive control means
290 Locking means 291 Locking part
292 Non-locking part 293 Unlocking hole
300 Blocking means 310 Blocking shutter
311 Blocking solenoid 312 Blocking advance / retreat bar
500 Judgment control means

Claims (4)

A transfer device for inserting a game medal into the medal slot of a gaming machine having a medal slot for inserting a game medal,
A collective slot that can accept multiple game medals;
A belt that is located below the collective throwing opening and sends out game medals thrown from the collective throwing opening to the medal slot,
A belt actuation switch for actuating the belt;
A judgment control means for judging whether or not the operation of the belt is performed within a predetermined time;
The game medals on the belt are formed so as to be sent out from the belt front end to the medal slot when the belt is rotated forward, and dropped from the belt rear end to be discharged to the outside when the belt is reversed,
The conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the belt is not operated for a predetermined time as a result of the determination by the determination control means, the belt is reversely rotated. A transfer device for inserting a game medal into the medal slot of a gaming machine having a medal slot for inserting a game medal,
A collective slot that can accept multiple game medals;
A belt that is located below the collective throwing opening and sends out game medals thrown from the collective throwing opening to the medal slot,
A belt actuation switch for actuating the belt;
A judgment control means for judging whether or not the operation of the belt and the game of the gaming machine are performed within a predetermined time;
The game medals on the belt are formed so as to be sent out from the belt front end to the medal slot when the belt is rotated forward, and dropped from the belt rear end to be discharged to the outside when the belt is reversed,
A conveying apparatus characterized in that the belt is reversely rotated when the belt is not operated for a predetermined time and the gaming machine is not played for a predetermined time as a result of the determination by the determination control means. The batch loading opening of the transfer device is provided with a closing means for closing the batch loading opening,
The conveying device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the conveying device is configured to close the closing means when the belt is reversely rotated.   After the belt is reversed, the belt is not operated or the game machine is not operated according to the determination result of the determination control means until a predetermined time elapses after the belt is reversed. The conveying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the conveying device is configured to reverse the belt when the belt is not used.

Images