JP2008176635A - Coin feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a coin feeding device, accurately adjusting an opening width of a coin feeding port with a minimum time and effort. <P>SOLUTION: The device comprises a coin guide 17 defining the coin feeding port 15, a screw bar 24 supported along a predetermined position adjusting passage of the coin guide 17 so as to be rotatable at a fixed position, and a female screw 29 screwed to the screw bar 24 and also connected with the coin guide 17 while being regulated in co-rotation with the screw bar 24. When the screw bar 24 is rotated, the screw bar 24 is rotated at the fixed position, and the female screw 29 is moved in the longitudinal direction of the screw bar 24. According to this, the coin guide 17 is also moved along the predetermined position adjusting passage to thereby adjust the opening width W of the coin feeding port 15 in a stepless manner. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a coin feeding device for feeding coins stored in a container one by one in the radial direction. The coin payout device is put into practical use, for example, as a prize coin payout device or a change payout device of a slot machine.

  As a kind of coin feeding device, a device having a coin feeding mechanism in a lower part of a container for storing coins is known. The coins in the container are guided to a predetermined coin payout opening by the operation of the coin payout mechanism, and are supplied one by one in the radial direction of the coin from the coin payout opening.

  The coin payout opening is defined by a pair of coin guides arranged at an interval corresponding to the diameter of the coin to be paid out (see Patent Publication 1). The width dimension of the coin payout opening needs to be set for each coin payout device in accordance with the size (coin diameter) of the coin to be paid out. For this reason, conventionally, a coin feeding device having a coin payout opening with a different opening width for each coin size is manufactured, or a dedicated part that defines the coin payout opening is prepared for each coin size, and the coin size is adapted to the coin size. A dedicated part was attached to each device for use. In addition, there is a configuration in which at least one attachment position of the coin guide can be changed on the base frame, and the opening width of the coin payout opening can be changed in accordance with the coin diameter (see Patent Document 2).

To change the coin guide mounting position, remove the coin guide fixing screw and reattach the coin guide to a new mounting position, or loosen the coin guide fixing screw and slide the coin guide to the new mounting position. Usually, the coin guide fixing screw is tightened again.
JP 2001-188929 A JP-A-6-178868

  The present invention has been made on the premise of the prior art, and the opening width of the coin payout opening can be freely adjusted in accordance with the coin diameter, and the adjustment work can be accurately performed with as few steps as possible. It is intended to propose a coin feeding device that can be used.

  The present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is a coin feeding device for feeding out coins in a radial direction from a coin feeding port disposed on a base frame, and defines the coin feeding port on the base frame. And a screw rod supported along a predetermined position adjusting path of the coin guide so that the coin guide can be rotated while remaining in a fixed position of the base frame by an operation from the outside of the coin feeding device. And an internal thread body that is screw-coupled to the threaded rod and connected to the coin guide, and further restricted from co-rotation with the threaded rod (Claim 1).

  According to the present invention, when the screw rod is rotated, the screw rod rotates while remaining in a fixed position of the base frame. Since the female screw body is restricted from rotating together with the screw rod, the female screw body moves in the length direction of the screw rod as the screw rod rotates. As a result, the coin guide also moves along the predetermined position adjustment path, and the opening width of the coin payout opening is adjusted steplessly.

  According to the present invention, the opening width of the coin payout opening can be adjusted only by rotating the screw rod. Therefore, the adjustment work does not take time. In addition, since the amount of movement of the coin guide is determined in accordance with the amount of rotation of the screw rod, the opening width of the coin payout opening can be adjusted accurately.

  As a preferred embodiment, the base frame includes a long hole formed so as to extend along the screw rod, and the coin guide is connected to the female screw body in the long hole. (Claim 2).

  As another preferred embodiment, the coin guide includes a guide pin connected to the female screw body and a guide wall for guiding the coin, and a tip end portion of the guide wall is connected to the guide pin. A mode in which the base end portion of the guide wall is coupled to the base frame so that the guide wall can slide in the length direction in accordance with the movement of the guide pin is exemplified. In this case, the coin is guided to the guide pin along the guide wall and fed out from the coin payout opening. When the guide pin is moved by the turning operation of the screw rod, the tip end portion of the guide wall is also moved, so that the shape of the guide wall is changed while sliding in the length direction.

  As another preferred embodiment, a mode in which the screw rod can be rotated from the outside of the coin feeding device is illustrated (Claim 4). In this way, since the opening width of the coin feeding opening can be adjusted without removing a part of the coin feeding device, it is preferable that the number of adjustment work is further reduced.

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

  FIG. 1 is an overall schematic perspective view of a coin payout device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a coin feeding device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a mount frame 3 that supports a coin feeding mechanism 2 and a removable coin container attached on the coin feeding mechanism 2. Hopper 4. A coin outlet 6 is formed in the base frame 5 of the coin feeding mechanism 2. Although not limited, in the present embodiment, the coin feeding mechanism 2 is supported obliquely on the mount frame 3 so that the coin outlet 6 faces obliquely upward. Coins C in the hopper 4 ride on the coin feeding mechanism 2 in an irregular state, and are fed one by one from the coin outlet 6 in the coin radial direction by the operation of the coin feeding mechanism 2.

  The coin payout device 1 can be used, for example, as a component of a prize coin payout device or a change payout device of a slot machine. Therefore, in this specification, a coin widely means a disk-shaped body such as a coin or a game medal.

  When the hopper 4 is removed from the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the coin feeding mechanism 2 shown in FIG. 2 appears. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the main part of the coin feeding mechanism 2 with the coin outlet 6 facing upward.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the base frame 5 of the coin feeding mechanism 2 includes a rotor accommodating hole 7 on an upper surface thereof, and a rotor 8 is rotatably accommodated in the rotor accommodating hole 7. The rotor 8 is detachably attached to a rotor drive shaft 9 that is rotatably supported by the base frame 5. The rotor drive shaft 9 is connected for driving to an electric motor with a speed reducer (not shown) supported on the back surface of the base frame 5. The rotor 8 is rotationally driven in the coin feeding direction (clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2) by the operation of the electric motor.

  The rotor 8 includes a rotor body 12 and a coin support ring 11 formed concentrically and integrally below the rotor body 12. The rotor body 12 has a plurality of (four in the example of FIG. 2) coin receiving holes 10 arranged in the circumferential direction. The coin support ring 11 is located below each coin receiving hole 10. The coin support ring 11 is received in a ring receiving hole 14 formed in the base frame 5 when attached to the base frame 5. The upper surface of the coin support ring 11 is located in the same plane as the upper surface of the base frame 5. A gap is formed between the upper surface of the coin support ring 11 and the lower surface of the rotor main body 12 to accept one coin. A coin pusher 13 is formed on the lower surface of the rotor body 12 at a position behind the coin receiving hole 10 in the rotational direction. Coins C received in the coin receiving holes 10 and placed on the coin support ring 11 are pushed by the coin pusher 13 by the rotation of the rotor 8 and are applied to the inner peripheral surface 7 a of the rotor receiving hole 7. It is carried in the circumferential direction of the rotor 8 while being guided. On the base frame 5, a coin path changing pin 19 that can be freely moved is provided at a predetermined position within the rotation radius of the rotor 8.

  On the base frame 5, a coin payout opening 15 for paying out the coin C in the radial direction is disposed inside the coin exit 6. The coin payout opening 15 is covered with a payout opening cover 16 attached to the base frame 5. An opening width (vertical width) of the coin payout opening 15 in the coin thickness direction is defined by the lower surface of the payout opening cover 16 and the upper surface of the base frame 5. An opening width (lateral width) W in the coin radial direction of the coin payout opening 15 is defined by a coin guide 17 whose position is adjustable and a coin kicking roller 18.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an operation at the time of coin payout by the apparatus of FIG. The coin kicking roller 18 is constantly urged by a coin kicking spring 31 toward a predetermined return position indicated by a solid line in FIG. The coin C carried in the circumferential direction of the rotor 8 by the rotor 8 abuts on the coin path changing pin 19 (see FIG. 2), and the path is changed in the direction of the coin payout opening 15, and the coin The pusher 13 pushes the coin to the coin feeding opening 15. As a result, the coin kicking roller 18 is forcibly pushed open as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 3 against the urging force of the kicking spring 31. As soon as the diameter of the coin C passes between the coin guide 17 and the coin kicking roller 18, the coin kicking roller 31 is returned to the predetermined return position by the action of the kicking spring 31. . Thereby, the coin C is kicked out to the coin outlet 6.

  The number of coins fed out by the coin feeding device 1 can be counted by a conventionally known appropriate means. For example, the coin kicking roller 18 and a coin counter (not shown) are mechanically connected, and the number of coins to be fed can be counted based on the number of movements of the coin kicking roller 18. As another means, a non-contact sensor such as an optical type or a magnetic type can be provided inside the coin outlet 6, and a coin counter can be operated by a signal from the sensor.

  The coin feeding device 1 can be used for coins of various diameters by adjusting the position of the guide pin 17 according to the coin diameter. The coin feeding device 1 is characterized by a position adjusting mechanism of the coin guide 17. The specific configuration is as follows.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the coin guide 17 includes a guide pin 20 erected on the base frame 5 so as to be position-adjustable, a guide wall 21 that guides the coin C toward the guide pin 20, Is provided. The position of the guide pin 20 can be adjusted toward and away from the coin kicking roller 18. The coin C is guided to the guide pin 20 along the guide wall 21 and is fed out from the coin payout opening 15.

  The guide wall 21 is formed in a strip shape with a material having good elastic deformability such as spring steel. A distal end portion 21 a of the guide wall 21 is connected to the guide pin 20. On the other hand, the base end portion 21 b of the guide wall 21 is connected to the base frame 5 so that the guide wall 21 can slide in the length direction in accordance with the movement of the guide pin 20. Specifically, a guide wall receiving groove 22 extending in the circumferential direction of the rotor 8 is formed in the base frame 5. The guide wall receiving groove 22 is positioned outward from the rotation radius of the rotor 8 and receives the base end 21b side of the guide wall 21 by a predetermined length. The guide wall 21 can slide in the length direction of the guide wall 21 in a state of being fitted in the guide wall receiving groove 22.

  A straight long hole 23 is formed in the base frame 5 along a predetermined position adjusting path of the guide pin 20. The length of the long hole 23 is the same as or longer than the necessary maximum position adjustment distance of the coin guide 17. A screw rod 24 is supported on the base frame 5 so as to extend along the long hole 23. The screw rod 24 is disposed at a position that does not block the coin payout opening 15. In the present embodiment, the screw rod 24 is disposed on the back side of the base frame 5 and directly below the long hole 23. The screw rod 24 is supported by the base frame 5 so that the screw rod 24 can be rotated while remaining at a fixed position of the base frame 5. The screw rod 24 is preferably rotatable from the outside of the coin feeding device 1 or the coin feeding mechanism 2.

  An example of the mounting structure of the screw rod 24 to the base frame 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 is an enlarged rear view of the main part of the base frame, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the screw rod 24 includes a flange 26 formed integrally with the head portion 25. The flange 26 is rotatably fitted in a flange receiving groove 27 formed in the base frame 5. On the other hand, the distal end portion 28 of the screw rod 24 is rotatably supported by the base frame 5. The head 25 of the screw rod 24 is exposed on the side surface of the base frame 5. For this reason, the screw rod 24 can be rotated in both forward and reverse directions from the outside of the coin feeding device 1 or the coin feeding mechanism 2 using a screwdriver. Since the flange 26 is fitted in the flange receiving groove 27, the screw rod 24 rotates while remaining at a fixed position of the base frame 5.

  A female screw body 29 is screwed to the screw rod 24. The guide screw 20 is connected to the female screw body 29 in the long hole 23. The female screw body 29 is restricted from rotating together with the screw rod 24. Therefore, when the screw rod 24 is rotated, the female screw body 29 moves in the length direction of the screw rod 24, and the guide pin 20 moves in the long hole 23. As a specific configuration for the co-rotation restriction of the female screw body 29, in the example of FIG. 4, a co-rotation restriction plate 30 extending along the screw rod 24 is formed integrally with the base frame 5. As shown in FIG. 4, the co-rotation restricting plate 30 may be a pair of restricting plates positioned in parallel with the screw rod 24 interposed therebetween, or one of them may be omitted.

  In the above configuration, when the screw rod 24 is rotated, the guide pin 20 moves in the long hole 23, and the opening width W of the coin payout opening 15 in the coin radial direction is adjusted steplessly. Since the opening width W of the coin payout opening 15 can be adjusted simply by rotating the screw rod 24 from the outside of the coin payout device 1, adjustment work is not troublesome. In addition, since the amount of movement of the guide pin 20 is determined according to the amount of rotation of the screw rod 24, the opening width W of the coin payout port 15 can be adjusted accurately.

  Further, the tip 21a of the guide wall 21 also moves in response to the movement of the guide pin 20, so that the shape of the guide wall 21 changes while sliding in the length direction. Therefore, the coin is always smoothly guided toward the guide pin 15 regardless of the coin diameter.

  In the present invention, the coin feeding mechanism 2 is not limited to the illustrated example. For example, it may be configured such that a preceding coin is pushed out to the coin payout opening 15 by a coin that subsequently moves.

1 is an overall schematic perspective view of a coin payout device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of the principal part of the apparatus of FIG. It is a top view which shows the operation | movement at the time of coin feeding by the apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged back view of a main part of the base frame in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 2.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Coin delivery apparatus 5 Base frame 15 Coin delivery opening 17 Coin guide 20 Guide pin 21 Guide wall 21a Guide wall tip 21b Guide wall base end 23 Long hole 24 Screw rod 29 Female screw body C Coin

Claims (4)

  A coin feeding device (1) for feeding a coin (C) in a radial direction from a coin feeding opening (15) disposed on a base frame (5), wherein the coin feeding device is placed on the base frame (5). A coin guide (17) defining an outlet (15) and a predetermined position adjustment path of the coin guide (17) so that the coin guide (17) can be rotated while staying at a fixed position of the base frame (5). A threaded rod (24) supported in this manner, and a female threaded body (screw threaded to the threaded rod (24) and connected to the coin guide (17) and whose rotation with the threaded rod (24) is restricted. And 29).   The base frame (5) includes a long hole (23) formed to extend along the screw rod (24), and the coin guide (17) is inserted into the female screw body (23) in the long hole (23). 29. The coin payout device according to claim 1, which is connected to 29).   The coin guide (17) includes a guide pin (20) connected to the female screw body (29) and a guide wall (21) for guiding the coin (C), and a tip of the guide wall (21). The portion (21a) is connected to the guide pin (20), and the guide wall (21) is slid in the length direction according to the movement of the guide pin (20). The coin feeding device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a base end (21b) is connected to the base frame (5).   The coin feeding device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the screw rod (24) is rotatable from the outside of the coin feeding device (1).

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