JP2008086722A - Game medium dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game medium dispenser without the use of hands when conveying Pachinko balls from a storage lower tray to a ball tray, eliminating player's hands from getting dirty, electric shock due to static electricity generated when holding them with a hand, and spilling of Pachinko balls, preventing the player from feeling troublesome, having compatibility between game machines (a Pachinko machine and a slot machine), dispensing with the disposal of the game medium dispenser at the disposal of a game machine, being reusable for a new game machine and allowing the construction of an inexpensive system. <P>SOLUTION: This game medium dispenser puts out game media for use in the game machine by the insertion of coins is provided with a putout mechanism putting out the game media corresponding to the inserted coins to the ball tray of the game machine, and a conveyance mechanism conveying the game media stored in the storage lower tray provided in the lower part of the game machine to the ball tray. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a game medium lending machine, particularly a game medium lending machine used for a game machine that uses a pachinko ball as a game medium to execute a game, and in particular, a pachinko ball stored in a storage tray of the game machine. The present invention relates to a game medium lending machine provided with a transport mechanism for transporting to a tray.

In addition to pachinko machines that play games using pachinko balls as conventional game media, slot machines that use pachinko balls to execute games have recently been developed. Among such gaming machines, when a gaming machine lending machine used in a conventional pachinko machine is used as it is for a slot machine that executes games using pachinko balls, it was borrowed on the front of the slot machine. Although there is a ball tray that can accept pachinko balls, this ball tray is not configured to take into account the pachinko balls that can be borrowed using the ball lending machine used in the pachinko machines. For this reason, the discharge port of the nozzle may not be arranged at the upper part of the ball tray. In view of this, a slot machine has been developed in which a game ball can be directly borrowed from the ball lending machine without modifying the existing ball lending machine to a slot machine using this type of pachinko ball. However, in such a slot machine using pachinko balls instead of medals as game media, five pachinko balls per medal (equivalent conversion of medals and pachinko balls) Necessary to do) For this reason, the pachinko balls are consumed more rapidly than the medals with respect to the progress of the game, and in order to continue the game at all times, the ball trays are placed on the upper ball trays that receive and store the pachinko balls paid out to the players. It was necessary to frequently convey the surplus pachinko balls stored from the storage lower plate that receives and stores the surplus pachinko balls to the upper ball tray.
However, in the slot machine disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the storage tray is provided at the lower part of the gaming machine, not only is it impossible to grab the pachinko ball by hand, but also the player during the transportation of the pachinko ball In addition to problems such as getting your hands dirty, or being shocked by static electricity when you grab a pachinko ball with your hand, you might spill your pachinko ball because you grab your pachinko ball with your hand. In addition, each time it is necessary to grasp the pachinko ball by hand, the player may feel emotionally bothersome. Therefore, a gaming machine (pachinko machine) provided with a transport mechanism for automatically transporting a pachinko ball from a storage lower tray to a ball receiving tray according to a player's operation is disclosed. (See Patent Document 2)

  However, in the structure disclosed in Patent Document 2, it occurs when the pachinko balls are frequently transported by hand from a storage pan that receives and stores surplus pachinko balls that have been a problem in the structure disclosed in Patent Document 1. Although the problem has been solved, each game machine (pachinko machine) has a transport mechanism, so it must be set as a dedicated game machine (pachinko machine) equipped with a transport mechanism in the game machine (pachinko machine) , It is not compatible with other gaming machines (pachinko machines, slot machines), and when the gaming machines (pachinko machines, slot machines, etc.) are discarded, it will be discarded including the transport mechanism. There was a risk that the cost would be expensive.

  JP 2001-353322 A   JP 2003-70967 A

    The present invention relates to a game medium lending machine for paying out game media used in a gaming machine by inserting money, a payout mechanism for paying out game media corresponding to the inserted money to a ball tray of the gaming machine, and a lower part of the gaming machine And a transport mechanism for transporting the game medium stored in the storage tray provided to the ball receiving tray to eliminate the need to use hands when transporting the pachinko balls from the storage tray to the ball receiving tray. In addition, there are problems such as dirt on the player's hand, electric shock due to static electricity generated when grabbing with the hand, no spilling of pachinko balls, and emotional feeling of the player. In addition, the game machines are compatible with each other (pachinko machines, slot machines), and it is not necessary to dispose of the game media lending machine when the game machine is abandoned. Accordingly, an object of the invention to provide a game medium lending machine which can construct an inexpensive system as a whole game system.

The present invention relates to a game medium lending machine that pays out game media by inserting money, wherein the game medium lending machine pays out a game medium corresponding to the inserted money to a ball tray of the game machine; and The game medium stored in a storage lower tray provided in the lower part is provided with a transport mechanism that transports the game medium to the ball tray while taking it from the supply passage.

  By configuring as described above, it is not necessary to use a hand to transport the game medium from the storage tray to the ball receiving tray. Therefore, when the pachinko ball is transported, the player's hand is soiled and gripped by the hand. Eliminates problems such as electric shock due to static electricity, spilling pachinko balls, and emotionally annoying players, and compatibility with different game machines (pachinko machines, slot machines) In addition, it is not necessary to discard the game media lending machine in accordance with the abandonment of the gaming machine, and it can be reused for a new gaming machine, so that an inexpensive system as a whole gaming system can be constructed.

  The next invention provides a discharge nozzle for supplying the game medium paid out from the payout mechanism to the ball receiving tray, and supplies the game medium transferred by the transfer mechanism to the ball receiving tray via the discharge nozzle. Is.

  By configuring as described above, it is possible to obtain a game medium lending machine having a simple configuration capable of supplying the game medium lent out by one discharge nozzle and the game medium conveyed from the conveyance mechanism to the ball receiving tray. Can do.

  The next invention is provided with a switching mechanism for selectively supplying either the game medium from the payout mechanism or the game medium conveyed from the conveyance mechanism to the ball receiving tray from the discharge nozzle. .

  By configuring as described above, the number of game media corresponding to the amount of money inserted can be easily grasped, and the game media from the payout mechanism and the game media transported from the transport mechanism are mixed to cause clogging. There is no fear.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided communication means for communicating the discharge mechanism and the discharge nozzle when driving of the transport mechanism is stopped.

  By configuring as described above, since the transport of the game medium from the transport mechanism is surely stopped when the payout mechanism is operated, the game medium from the payout mechanism is accurately supplied to the ball receiving tray.

  The next invention has a margin in the amount of game media received in the ball receiving tray by the ball receiving tray confirmation sensor disposed on the discharge nozzle side and the storage lower tray confirmation sensor disposed on the transport mechanism side, And when the presence of a game medium is confirmed on the transport mechanism side, the transport mechanism is driven.

By configuring as described above, an extra game medium is supplied to the ball receiving tray from the transport mechanism to overflow the game medium, or the transport mechanism is driven wastefully even though there is no game medium on the transport mechanism side. There is no.

  The present invention relates to a game medium lending machine for paying out game media used in a gaming machine by inserting money, a payout mechanism for paying out game media corresponding to the inserted money to a ball tray of the gaming machine, and a lower part of the gaming machine By providing a transport mechanism for transporting the game medium stored in the storage tray provided to the ball receiving tray, it is not necessary to use a hand when transporting the pachinko balls from the storage tray to the ball receiving tray. In addition, there are problems such as dirt on the player's hand, electric shock due to static electricity generated when grabbing with the hand, no spilling pachinko balls, and the player feeling emotionally bothersome. In addition to being resolved, there is compatibility between gaming machines (pachinko machines, slot machines), and there is no need to discard gaming media lending machines when the gaming machines are discarded, and it can be reused for new gaming machines. It, it is possible to obtain a game medium lending machine which can construct an inexpensive system as a whole game system.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The front view which showed the slot machine using the game media rental machine and pachinko ball of this invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a game media rental machine, FIG. 3 shows the principal part of the conveyance mechanism, FIG. 4A is a top view, FIG. 4B is a side view, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the transport mechanism, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation process of the transport mechanism.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a gaming medium lending machine 10 of the present invention is provided adjacent to a slot machine (hereinafter simply referred to as a slot machine) 30 using pachinko balls as a gaming machine. The slot machine 30 is provided with a game effect lamp portion 32 at the upper front portion of the front door 31 constituting the front surface of the slot machine 30 and a game panel 33 at the central portion. Below the game panel 33, a protrusion 34 is formed to protrude forward from the game panel 33. The protrusion 34 is provided with various operation buttons 35 and a start button 36, respectively.

Further, the slot machine 30 serving as the gaming machine is provided with a ball receiving tray 40 and a storage lower tray 50. The above-described ball receiving tray 40 is provided at the same height as a ball receiving tray of a pachinko machine (not shown) that is generally used. That is, it is provided at a position corresponding to a discharge nozzle of a game medium lending machine (pachinko machine) provided for discharging a pachinko ball lent to a player. In general, the height is located below the protrusion 34 provided with the operation button 35. Further, the storage lower tray 50 is provided on the lower side of the slot machine 30 in the same manner as a lower tray (not shown) for storing prize medals provided in a slot machine that uses medals as game media.

  The game media lending machine 10 of the present invention is used when borrowing a pachinko ball as a game ball when a player plays a game in the slot machine 30, and is generally arranged on the left side of the slot machine 30. Has been. The game medium lending machine 10 is formed in a long rectangular box shape, and is roughly divided into two vertically by a partition wall 14. A bill recognition device 11 and a coin recognition device 12 are disposed in the upper internal space. The front plate 16 is provided with the insertion ports 11a and 12a and the change return port 13 of the bill recognition device 11 and the coin recognition device 12, respectively. A pachinko ball 90a is placed on the back of the bill recognition device 11 and the coin recognition device 12 in the internal space from the supply basket 92, which is a game medium supply device provided outside, to the discharge nozzle 60 via the supply box 93. A supply pipe 61 for supplying is provided. A counter 62 is disposed in the middle of the supply pipe 61, and a pachinko ball 90 a corresponding to the input amount is supplied from the supply box 70 to the discharge nozzle 60 and discharged to the ball tray 40.

  On the other hand, a transport mechanism 20 is disposed in the front portion of the space defined in the lower part of the game medium lending machine 10. This transport mechanism 20 is placed between a partition wall 14 that divides the game medium lending machine 10 vertically and a bottom plate 15 inside a housing 21 that has a horizontal cross section formed in a front-rear conical shape as shown in FIG. The screw conveyor 22 and a motor 23 attached to the lower end of the screw conveyor 22 are provided. And the upper end of this housing 21 is connected to the supply box 70 provided in the upper surface of the partition 14, and the communication port 21a of the storage lower tray 50 and the supply channel | path 51 is formed in the lower end part. On the inner side of the front wall of the housing 21, a fitting groove 24 for a pachinko ball 90b is formed in the vertical direction.

  The supply box 70 is defined in a rectangular box shape on the upper surface of the end of the partition wall 14 inside the front surface of the game medium lending machine 10. A supply pipe 61 communicates with the upper wall 71 of the supply box 70, and the upper end of the housing 21 is inserted into the lower wall 72. The end of the screw conveyor 22 is inserted into the supply box 70 from the end of the housing 21. On the other hand, a discharge nozzle 60 is attached to the front wall 73 of the supply box 70.

  Further, a switching mechanism 80 is disposed inside the supply box 70. This switching mechanism 80 is pivotally supported by the rear wall 74 of the supply box 70 so that rotation is possible. That is, the opening and closing plate 81 is provided as well as opening and closing the communication hole 61 a with the supply pipe 61 formed in the upper wall 71. The opening / closing plate 81 also has a function of guiding the pachinko ball 90 a to the discharge nozzle 60 when the supply pipe 61 formed on the upper wall 71 of the supply box 70 is released.

  The discharge nozzle 60 is attached to the front wall 73 of the supply box 70, that is, the front surface of the game medium rental machine 10 and communicates with the supply box 70. A discharge port 64 that is continuous with the discharge passage 63 is formed on the side opposite to the communicating portion. The pachinko balls are arranged above the ball tray 40 so that the pachinko balls can be discharged from there. Further, inside the discharge nozzle 60, a ball receiving tray confirmation sensor S1 for monitoring the discharge port 64 is attached. This ball receiving tray confirmation sensor S1 senses whether or not the pachinko balls 90a and 90b exist in the vicinity of the discharge port 64, and stops the operation of the conveying device 20 when sensing that the pachinko balls 90a and 90b exist. The pachinko balls 90a and 90b are prevented from overflowing from the ball tray 40. When it is confirmed that there are no pachinko balls 90 a and 90 b in the vicinity of the discharge port 64, the transport device 20 is driven, the pachinko balls 90 b are lifted from the storage lower tray 50, and the pachinko balls 90 b are placed on the ball tray 40. Supply and prevent the game from being interrupted. Further, the bottom of the storage lower tray 50 is formed in a downward slope in the direction of the conveying device 20, and is connected from its end to a communication port 21 a formed at the lower end of the housing 21 through a supply passage 51. A discharge door 52 is formed between the bottom end portion of the storage lower tray 50 and the replenishment passage 51. By opening the discharge door 52, the pachinko balls 90b stored in the storage lower tray 50 are exposed to the outside. It can be discharged.

  Next, the relationship between the game medium lending machine 10 and the slot machine 30, that is, the conveyance relationship of the pachinko balls 90a and 90b will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. First, when a player inserts a bill or a coin from the insertion port 11a of the bill recognition device 11 or the insertion port 12a of the coin recognition device 12 (ST1), the authenticity of the bill or coin is determined (ST2). Then, the number of pachinko balls 90 a is counted by the counter 62, and a desired number of pachinko balls 90 a are conveyed to the supply box 70 through the supply pipe 61, and are conveyed to the discharge nozzle 60 through the discharge pipe 63. After that, it is discharged from the discharge port 64 to the ball receiving tray 40. The player uses the pachinko ball 90a to start a game. At this time, it is confirmed whether or not the transport device 20 is in operation. That is, the transfer device 20 is stopped, the switching mechanism 80 is in the operating state, the solenoid 82 is operated, the opening / closing plate 81 is attracted toward the lower wall, and the communication hole 61a at the end of the supply pipe 61 is formed. It is confirmed whether or not the supply pipe 61 and the discharge nozzle 60 are in communication with each other (ST3). Then, when a desired number of pachinko balls 90a are supplied (ST4), the opening / closing plate 81 serving as the communication means is restored to hold the pachinko balls 90b from the screw conveyor 22 (normal state) and at the same time, the conveying device 20 Drive. However, when there is no pachinko ball 90b in the storage lower tray 50, the sensor S2 detects it and the transport device 20 is not driven.

Next, when the game progresses and the pachinko ball 90b as a prize ball is paid out of the storage lower tray 50, the pachinko ball 90b is transferred from the supply passage 51 to the communication port 21a with the transport mechanism 20.
At this time, as described above, there is no pachinko ball 90b in the storage lower plate 50 by the storage lower plate confirmation sensor S2 (ST7), and the pachinko ball 90 near the discharge port 64 of the discharge nozzle 60 by the ball tray confirmation sensor S1. Is confirmed (ST8), the motor 23 is driven for the first time and the screw conveyor 22 is rotated (ST9). By the rotation of the screw conveyor 22, the pachinko balls 90b are taken into the conveying device 20 from the communication port 21a. The taken pachinko balls 90b are conveyed upward in the fitting groove 24 as the screw conveyor 22 rotates, and are conveyed into the supply box 70 (ST5). The pachinko ball 90b carried into the supply box 70 is discharged to the ball receiving tray 40 via the discharge nozzle 60, used as a game ball, and the game is continued (ST6).

  At the end of the game, first, the discharge door 52 formed between the storage lower tray 50 and the supply passage 51 is opened, and the pachinko ball 90b is discharged from the discharge door to the box 91. Thereafter, when the player presses an end button (not shown) provided on the game medium lending machine 10, the transport device 20 is driven for a certain time to discharge the pachinko balls 90 b in the transport device 20 into the ball tray 40. Stop later. The player collects the pachinko ball 90b and ends the game. In addition, a shutter is provided instead of providing the openable and closable discharge door 52 in the storage tray 50, and the conveying device 20 is fixed after the pachinko ball 90b is discharged to the freezing box 91 by shutting off the supply passage 51 with the shutter. It is good also as a structure driven by time.

  It is the front view which showed the slot machine using the game media rental machine and pachinko ball of this invention.   It is a schematic side view of a game media rental machine.   The principal part of a conveyance mechanism is shown, (A) is a top view, (B) is a side view.   It is sectional drawing of a conveyance mechanism.   It is the flowchart figure which showed the operation process of a conveyance mechanism.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Game media lending machine 11 Banknote identification device 11a Insert port 12 Coin identification device 12a Insert port 13 Change return port 14 Bulkhead 15 Bottom plate 16 Front plate 20 Conveyance mechanism 21 Housing 21a Contact port 22 Screw conveyor 23 Motor 24 Fitting groove 30 Slot machine 31 Front door 32 Game effect lamp portion 33 Game panel 34 Projection portion 35 Operation button 36 Start button 40 Ball tray 50 Storage bottom plate 51 Replenishment passage 52 Discharge door 60 Discharge nozzle 61 Supply pipe 61a Communication hole 62 Counter 63 Discharge passage 64 Discharge port 70 Supply box 71 Upper wall 72 Lower wall 73 Front wall 74 Rear wall 80 Switching mechanism 81 Opening / closing plate 82 Solenoid 90a Pachinko ball (rented out)
90b Pachinko ball (conveyed)
91 Frozen box 92 Supply rod 93 Supply box S1 Ball tray confirmation sensor S2 Storage tray confirmation sensor

Claims (5)

  In a game medium lending machine that pays out game media used in a gaming machine by inserting money, a payout mechanism that pays out game media corresponding to the inserted money to a ball tray of the gaming machine, and a lower part of the gaming machine A game media rental machine comprising: a transport mechanism for transporting game media stored in a storage tray to the ball receiving tray.   A discharge nozzle for supplying the game medium paid out from the payout mechanism to the ball receiving tray is provided, and the game medium transferred by the transfer mechanism is supplied to the ball receiving tray through the discharge nozzle. The game media rental machine according to claim 1   2. A switching mechanism is provided for selectively supplying one of game media from the payout mechanism and game media transported from the transport mechanism to the ball receiving tray from the discharge nozzle. 3. A game media rental machine according to item 2 or 2.   4. The game medium rental machine according to claim 1, further comprising communication means for communicating the payout mechanism and the discharge nozzle when driving of the transport mechanism is stopped. .   With the ball receiving tray confirmation sensor disposed on the discharge nozzle side and the storage lower tray confirmation sensor disposed on the transport mechanism side, there is a margin in the amount of game media received by the ball tray, and the transport mechanism side The game medium rental machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when the presence of a game medium is confirmed, the transport mechanism is driven.

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