JP2008125985A - Token dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a token dispenser capable of directly feeding dirt tokens, thrown-in by a player, to a washing machine without feeding the tokens to the washing machine in a mixed state with clean tokens stored in a storage hopper, by providing a communication bridge which guides the tokens thrown-in by the player to a discharge passage, in the storage hopper. <P>SOLUTION: The token put-out device includes: the discharge passage having a discharge port for allowing the tokens stored in the storage hopper to overflow and to be discharged from the storage hopper; and the communication bridge for guiding the tokens, thrown-in to the storage hopper, to the discharge passage, which is arranged so as to be movable forwards and backwards from a side, facing the discharge port side of the discharge passage, toward a storage hopper wall or a token flow-down floor. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a medal payout device, and more particularly to a medal payout device used in a gaming machine that executes a game using medals (including coins, tokens, etc.) as game media.

A medal payout device used in a gaming machine that executes a game using medals (including coins, tokens, etc.) as a game medium generally includes a storage hopper that temporarily stores medals, and a stored medal Is provided with a medal payout mechanism that counts out each one and sends them to the player. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-021272, “Surplus Machine Surplus Medal Storage Tank” (Patent Document 1), when the medal recovery belt 10 is provided, medals overflowing from the hopper 3 are passed through the medal receiver 7 and the medal recovery tube 8. Then, it is transferred onto the medal recovery belt 10. In the case where the medal recovery belt 10 is not provided, it is disclosed that the medal recovery port 22 and the medal drop port 23 are blocked by the lid 30 and the medals overflowed from the hopper 3 are stored in the surplus medal storage tank 11. .

Prior art documents related to the invention of this application include the following.
JP 2005-021272 A

However, in the above-described prior art, when the medal recovery belt 10 is not provided below the medal payout device, a clean medal by automatic replenishment overflowing from the hopper 3 and a dirty medal manually inserted by the player are surplus medal storage tanks. 11 and the surplus medal storage tank 11 is carried to the washing machine by the store clerk to wash the medals. On the other hand, when the medal recovery belt 10 is provided below the gaming machine, only dirty medals may be placed on the medal recovery belt 10 and transported and cleaned by a washing machine. However, there is a problem in that it overflows in a state where it is mixed with dirty medals due to the player's manual insertion and is transported by the medal recovery belt 10 and washed by the washing machine.

The present invention aims to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and a medal recovery belt that conveys medals to a washing machine when a dirty medal is thrown into a storage hopper by a player's hand. It is an object to provide a mechanism for discharging only the dirty medals from the storage hopper.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration. That is, in the medal payout device for paying out medals stored in the storage hopper, a discharge passage having a discharge port for overflowing the medals stored in the storage hopper and discharging the medals to the outside of the storage hopper is provided and input to the storage hopper A connecting bridge for guiding the formed medal to the discharge passage is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat from the side of the discharge passage facing the discharge port side toward the wall of the storage hopper or the medal flow floor.

  As a result, depending on the processing conditions such as transporting and cleaning medals discharged from the storage hopper with a medal recovery belt, the wall of the storage hopper or the medals flow from the side facing the discharge port side of the discharge passage. It can be advanced toward the floor and brought into contact with the floor, or can be retracted from the wall of the storage hopper or the medal flow-down floor, and an appropriate cleaning process corresponding to the inserted medal can be performed.

  In the next invention, the progress of the connecting bridge from the discharge passage to the wall of the storage hopper or the medal flow floor moves the connecting bridge according to detection information of a sensor that detects a medal inserted by the player. This is done by driving the drive unit.

  As a result, when a dirty medal is inserted by the player's hand, a connecting bridge is always interposed between the storage hopper wall or the medal flow floor and the discharge passage. The dirty medals can be discharged out of the gaming machine provided with the medal payout device without being mixed with the stored clean medals.

The next invention is a discharge means for discharging medals from the discharge port to the outside of the gaming machine provided with the medal payout device, and a storage tank provided inside the gaming machine in the middle of the discharging means and capable of storing medals. When the medal recovery belt that conveys the medal to the washing machine is provided following the discharging means, the connecting bridge is advanced toward the wall of the storage hopper or the medal flow floor, and is contacted by the player. The inserted medals are discharged toward the medal collection belt through the connecting bridge, the discharge passage, and the discharge means.

  As a result, when the medal recovery belt is provided, the communication bridge is brought into contact with the wall of the storage hopper or the medal flow floor, and the dirty medal inserted by the player's hand is connected to the communication bridge, the discharge passage and the discharge path. The medals can be discharged to the medal recovery belt through the means, and only the dirty medals can be carried to the washing machine by the medal recovery belt for cleaning.

The present invention provides a medal payout device for paying out medals stored in a storage hopper, including a discharge passage having a discharge port for overflowing the medals stored in the storage hopper and discharging the medals out of the storage hopper, A connecting bridge for guiding medals thrown into the discharge passage is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat from the side of the discharge passage facing the discharge port side toward the wall of the storage hopper or the medal flow floor. By providing a medal payout device, a communication bridge that guides medals thrown into the storage hopper to the discharge passage according to processing conditions such as transporting and cleaning medals discharged from the storage hopper with a medal recovery belt, Advance from the side of the discharge passage facing the discharge port side toward the wall of the storage hopper or the medal flow floor, or the wall of the storage hopper Is by retracting the medal falling bed, it is possible to properly carry out the cleaning process of the medal inserted into the reservoir hopper.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of the medal payout device of the present invention as seen from the side, FIG. 2 is a perspective view thereof, FIG. 3 is a side view of a storage hopper, and FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a bridge portion. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram when the connecting bridge is advanced and retracted with respect to the discharge passage.

The medal payout device 1 of the present invention includes a storage hopper 2 having a discharge passage 6 for overflowing medals and a medal payout mechanism 3 on which the storage hopper 2 is placed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the storage hopper 2 has a box shape as a whole, and is detachably attached to the medal payout mechanism 3 described above. Specifically, the storage hopper 2 is defined by a front wall 21 (right side in FIG. 1), a rear wall 22 (left side in FIG. 1), both side walls 23, a front wall 21, a rear wall 22, and both side walls 23. It is formed in a generally bottomed box shape having a bottom wall 24 formed at the bottom of the space. The bottom wall 24 is formed in a downward gradient from the rear wall 22 toward the front wall 21. In the upper part, a slot 25 for the medal 7 is opened. On the other hand, a discharge port 26 for the medal 7 projecting downward in a ring shape is formed at the lowest position of the bottom wall 24. Further, a claw 241 for mounting to the medal payout mechanism 3 is projected from the back surface of the bottom wall 24. In the specification, “front” and “rear” refer to the lower wall side of the medal payout mechanism 3 as the front and the higher wall side as the rear. (In FIG. 1, the right side is the front and the left side is the rear.)

Further, the bottom wall 24 of the storage hopper 2, together with the discharge port 26 of the ring-shaped medal 7 formed at the lowest position thereof, is a downhill part inclined downward from the rear wall 22 side to the vicinity of the middle part in the direction of the front wall 21. 27 and the downhill portion 27 are formed with a flange portion 28 extending continuously at a gentle inclination angle. The flange portion 28 extends to the middle of the discharge port 26. A protrusion 29 is formed on the surface of the sliding part 27 and the flange part 28 extending continuously from the sliding part 27 so that the sliding frictional force of the medal 7 is reduced.

As shown in FIG. 1, the medal payout mechanism 3 includes a substantially trapezoidal box-like support base 31 having an attachment surface 311 of the storage hopper 2 inclined downward from the rear to the front on the upper surface, and the attachment of the support base 31. A base 32 placed on the surface 311; a circular recess 321 formed on the upper surface of the base 32; a rotating plate 33 rotatably disposed in the circular recess 321; and a substantially trapezoidal box-like support base And a drive mechanism 34 for the rotating plate 33 disposed inside the motor 31. The storage hopper 2 is detachably attached to the mounting surface 311 via the base 32.

The rotating plate 33 has a disc shape, and a shaft hole is formed at the center, and a fitting hole 331 for fitting a plurality of medals along the circumference is provided around the shaft hole. . The medal 7 falls from the fitting hole 331 into a gap formed between the circular recess 321 and the rotating plate 33, and is released by any method such as a pin (not shown) protruding from the lower surface of the rotating plate 33. And then sent to the outside.

The discharge passage 6 through which the overflowing medal 7 is discharged has a concave cross section having a bottom wall 62 and a side wall 63. The discharge passage 6 communicates with the discharge port 211 formed in the storage hopper 2 at the front end, and the locking piece 61 protruding from the side wall 63 is hooked on the upper end of the side wall 23 of the storage hopper 2. Is disposed inside the inlet 25 of the storage hopper 2.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the connecting bridge 43 constituting the main part of the present invention bridges the surface of the downhill portion 27 and the discharge passage 6 as necessary.

More specifically, the connecting bridge 43 has a bottom plate 41 and side plates 42 formed upright on both sides of the bottom plate 41 so as to have a concave cross section. The bridge portion 4 is located behind the discharge passage 6 of the overflowing medal 7. A rectangular guide frame 44 provided integrally at the end (on the opposite side to the discharge port 211) and a drive unit 45 for moving the connecting bridge 43 back and forth are configured. The connecting bridge 43 is moved forward and backward by the drive unit 45 while sliding on the discharge passage 6 and the upper surface of the guide frame 44 to open or close the passage hole 441 of the medal 7 inside the guide frame 44. .

The connecting bridge 43 is fitted into the discharge passage 6 when the bottom plate 41 and the side plates 42 on both sides move so as to be in sliding contact with the bottom wall 62 of the discharge passage 6 and the inner surfaces of both side walls 63 to open the passage hole 441. It becomes a joint state. Further, the side plate 42 is provided with long grooves 46 each having a gear 461 engraved on the inner periphery, and an inclined portion 47 is formed on the lower edge of the rear end of the side plate 42. The inclined portion 47 comes into contact with the downhill portion 27 of the storage hopper 2 in accordance with the inclination when the connecting bridge 43 moves in the direction opposite to the discharge port 211 and closes the passage hole 441.

The guide frame 44 is integrally provided at the rear end of the discharge passage 6 (on the side opposite to the discharge port 211), and a passage hole 441 for the medal 7 surrounded by the frame is formed. 44 is not necessarily limited to the frame, and a crosspiece or a bar may be extended from the rear end of the discharge passage 6. In short, after the connecting bridge 43 moves in the direction opposite to the discharge port 211 and the inclined portion 47 contacts the downhill portion 27, the connecting bridge 43 is prevented from hanging down due to the weight of the medal 7 to be inserted. I hope you can.

The drive unit 45 includes a motor 451 fixed to the outside of the storage hopper 2 by an arbitrary method, a rotation shaft 452 of the motor 451, and a gear 454 fixed to the rotation shaft 452. The gear 454 meshes with a gear 461 formed on the inner periphery of the long groove 46 of the side plate 42 on the drive unit 45 side. On the other hand, a gear 456 that meshes with a gear 461 formed on the inner periphery of the long groove 46 of the side plate 42 on the side opposite to the drive unit 45 is inserted into a rotation shaft hole (not shown) provided in the side wall 63. It can be rotated by a short rotating shaft 455 provided with stoppers at both ends. For this reason, when the rotating shaft 452 rotates in the forward rotation direction or the reverse rotation direction by driving the motor 451, the connecting bridge 43 moves forward and backward along the long groove 46 accordingly. As a result, the connecting bridge 43 moves back and forth between the discharge passage 6 and the passage hole 441.

Here, the forward / backward movement of the connecting bridge 43 with respect to the discharge passage 6 is performed by driving the motor 451 of the drive unit 45 in accordance with a signal from a control unit (not shown). In other words, when the medal 7 inserted by the player through the insertion slot 5 passes through the insertion passage 51, the medal 7 is detected by the sensor 9 provided in the middle, and the signal is sent to the control unit (not shown). Sent. When the motor 51 is driven by a signal from a control unit (not shown) corresponding to this and the connecting bridge 43 is not positioned on the passage hole 441, the connecting bridge 43 moves from the bottom plate 62 toward the downhill part 27. Then, the passage hole 441 is closed, and the connecting portion 43 can receive the medal 7 falling from the insertion passage 51 by the inclined portion 47 abutting against the sliding portion 27. Conversely, when it is no longer necessary to close the connecting bridge 43 on the passage hole 441, the motor 451 is controlled by a signal sent through a control unit (not shown) by pressing a switch (not shown) or the like. By operating, the connecting bridge 45 is moved from the passage hole 441 to the bottom plate 62 to open the passage hole 441.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a charging passage 51 is provided above the storage hopper 2 to guide the medal 7 inserted from the insertion port 5 to the storage hopper 2. Is provided with a sensor 9 for detecting the medal 7 inserted from the insertion slot 5. A control unit (not shown) that operates the motor 451 of the drive unit 45 according to the detection result of the sensor 9 is provided. Here, the motor 451 of the drive unit 45 is actuated by a signal from a control unit (not shown) corresponding to the detection information of the sensor 9, and the connecting bridge 43 moves forward and backward with respect to the discharge passage 6 to pass through the passage hole 441. Open and close. Further, a discharge rod 10 that is a discharging means for the medal 7 is provided from the discharge port 211 of the storage hopper 2 to the lower side in the outward direction. A storage tank 11 that receives the medal 7 is provided below the discharge rod 10, and an opening 111 is provided at the bottom of the storage tank 11, and the opening 111 is inserted from above the storage tank 11. The storage tank 11 in which the opening 111 that can be opened and closed by the lid 112 is closed by the lid 112 can be removed from the gaming machine. Further, the medal 7 that drops from the opening 111 is recovered when the medal recovery belt 8 that conveys the medal toward the medal washing machine (not shown) is provided below the gaming machine provided with the medal payout device 1. A medal collection tube 12 is provided to guide the belt 8.

Here, the movement of the bridge portion 4 will be described in detail when the medal recovery belt 8 is provided below the gaming machine that houses the medal payout device 1 and when it is not provided. First, as shown in FIG. 5A, when the medal recovery belt 8 is provided below the gaming machine that houses the medal payout device 1, the dirty medal 7 that is manually inserted by the player from the insertion slot 5 is used. Falls in the charging passage 51 and is detected by the sensor 9 in the middle thereof. The motor 451 is actuated by a signal from a control unit (not shown) according to the detection information, and the connecting bridge 43 is advanced to the discharge passage 211 opposite to the discharge passage 6, covering the passage hole 441. Close. Therefore, the medal 7 that has been manually inserted by the player and dropped from the insertion passage 51 is received by the communication bridge 43 and discharged from the discharge port 5 to the outside of the medal payout device 1 through the discharge passage 6. The discharged medals 7 fall through a discharge basket 10 into a storage tank 11 installed below the discharge basket 10. The opening 111 remains open at the bottom of the storage tank 11, and the medal 7 falls onto the medal recovery belt 8 from the opening 111 and is transported to a washing machine (not shown), cleaned, and used again. . As a result, the dirty medal 7 thrown in by the player through the slot 5 is directly transported to the washing machine and washed without being mixed with the clean medal stored in the storage hopper 2. The dirty medal 7 can be cleaned.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the medal recovery belt 8 is not provided below the gaming machine in which the medal payout device 1 is stored, the opening at the bottom of the storage tank 11 is blocked by the lid 12. When the connecting bridge 43 closes the passage hole 441, the connecting portion 43 is retreated from the passage hole 441 to the bottom wall 62 by driving the drive unit 45. As a result, the passage hole 441 is opened, and the medal 7 inserted from the insertion portion 5 passes through the passage hole 441 and falls to the downhill portion 27 or the flange portion 28 as the medal flow down floor of the storage hopper 2 to be stored. Stored in the hopper 2. Thereafter, when the storage hopper 2 becomes full, the medal 7 overflows from the discharge port 221 through the discharge passage 6, falls through the discharge rod 10, and is stored in the storage tank 11 whose opening 111 is closed by the lid 112. . Thus, since the medal 7 is stored in the storage tank 11 only after the storage hopper 2 is full, a sufficient time can be secured until the storage tank 11 is full, and the storage tank becomes full. Thus, the number of times that the clerk of the game hall removes 11 from the gaming machine and takes it to the washing machine (not shown) can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, the connecting bridge 43 is moved back and forth, but a configuration in which the connecting bridge 43 is rotated with the vicinity of the rear end of the discharge passage 6 as a fulcrum to open / close the passage hole 441 may be used. .

Further, in this embodiment, the connecting bridge 4 is advanced and brought into contact with the downhill portion 27 by the detection signal of the medal 7 from the sensor 9, but this is not restrictive, and a switch (not shown) provided in the gaming machine. )) May be sent to a motor 451 via a control unit (not shown) to operate the motor 451 to move the connecting bridge 43. It may be provided so as to be detachable between the discharge passage 6 and may be attached or detached by hand as needed.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the connecting bridge 43 is advanced toward the downhill portion 27 by the drive of the motor 451 of the drive unit 45 from the side opposite to the discharge port 211 of the discharge passage 6 (the side opposite to the discharge port 211). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be advanced toward the flange portion 28 or the rear wall 22 to be brought into contact therewith.

It is outline | summary explanatory drawing seen from the side of the medal payout apparatus of this invention. It is the same perspective view. It is a side view of a storage hopper. It is the schematic perspective view which showed the connecting bridge. (A) It is explanatory drawing at the time of making the connection bridge of the medal payout device provided in the gaming machine advance with respect to the discharge passage and providing the medal recovery belt under the gaming machine. (B) It is explanatory drawing at the time of not moving a connection bridge of the medal payout device provided in the gaming machine to the discharge passage and providing no medal recovery belt under the gaming machine.

Explanation of symbols

1 Medal Dispensing Device 2 Storage Hopper 21 Front Wall 211 Discharge Port 22 Rear Wall 23 Side Wall 24 Bottom Wall 241 Claw 25 Insert Port 26 Discharge Port 27 Glide Port 28 Grow 29 Protrusion 3 Medal Discharge Mechanism 31 Support Base 311 Mounting Surface 32 Base 321 Circular recess 33 Rotating plate 331 Fitting hole 34 Drive mechanism 4 Bridge portion 41 Bottom plate 42 Side plate 43 Connecting bridge 44 Guide frame 441 Passing hole 45 Drive portion 451 Motor 452 Rotating shaft 455 Rotating shaft 454 Gear 46 Long groove 461 Gear 47 Inclined portion 5 Input Port 51 Input Passage 6 Discharge Passage 61 Locking Piece 62 Bottom Wall 63 Side Wall 7 Medal 8 Medal Recovery Belt 9 Sensor 10 Discharge Trap (Discharge Unit)
11 storage tank 111 opening 12 medal recovery pipe

Claims (3)

In the medal payout device for paying out medals stored in the storage hopper,
Providing a discharge passage having a discharge port for overflowing the medal stored in the storage hopper and discharging it outside the storage hopper;
A connecting bridge for guiding medals thrown into the storage hopper to the discharge passage is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat from the side of the discharge passage facing the discharge port side toward the wall of the storage hopper or the medal flow floor. A medal payout device.   The progress of the connecting bridge from the discharge passage to the wall of the storage hopper or the medal flow floor drives a drive unit that moves the connecting bridge according to detection information of a sensor that detects a medal inserted by a player. The medal payout device according to claim 1, wherein the medal payout device is performed. Discharging means for discharging medals out of the gaming machine provided with the medal payout device from the discharge port;
A storage tank provided inside the gaming machine in the middle of the discharging means and capable of storing medals;
When a medal recovery belt for transporting medals to the washing machine is provided following the discharging means, the connecting bridge is advanced toward the wall of the storage hopper or the medal flow floor and is inserted by the player. The medal payout device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the medal is discharged toward the medal recovery belt through the connecting bridge, a discharge passage, and a discharging unit.

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