JP2009032094A - Token dispensing device and game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a secure token dispensing device and a game machine that can prevent improper dispensing of excess tokens by providing a detection function of detecting tokens before they are dispensed out and implementing secure detection in the detection of token dispensing. <P>SOLUTION: The token dispensing device has in a rotary feed passage an extended area widened toward a branch position, and has in the extended area a token passage detection means for detecting the passage of tokens. The token passage detection means is positioned such that the detection output overlaps with the detection output of a token dispensing detection means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a medal payout device that pays out medals or circulation coins used for a slot machine, for example, one by one, and more specifically, prevents excessive payout of medals due to fraud. The present invention relates to a medal payout device and a gaming machine.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a coin (hereinafter referred to as a medal) payout device provided in a slot machine or the like separates a large number of medals stored in a medal hopper one by one by rotating a rotating disk provided at the bottom thereof. It leads to the delivery opening. In this medal delivery opening, a count arm that pushes back the sent medal freely with a spring is arranged, and the medal throwing sensor detects the movement when the count arm flips the medal and operates. The total number of medals paid out based on the detection result is counted (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, in such a detection structure, the movement of the count arm is an indirect detection of detecting the number of medals to be paid out through the medal throwing sensor. It is easy to carry out an illegal act of intentionally blocking the sensor light of the sensor and paying out more medals than the regular medal payout number.

  Further, the first sensor indicates a standby position before the count arm operation in which the count arm flips the medal to the medal discharge port, and a medal payout completion position after the count arm operation in which the count arm flips the medal is operated. There is known an apparatus that accurately counts the total number of medals paid out by separately detecting two sensors, ie, the second sensor and the second sensor (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  However, in this case, since the structure is such that the movement of the count arm at the medal outlet is detected by using two sensors to determine whether or not the medal has been paid out, the count arm disposed immediately before the medal outlet Were subject to fraud. For example, a fraudulent person may operate the count arm illegally from the outside as if the count arm is not playing a medal, and make a false detection at the medal outlet. There was a risk of fraudulent behavior of paying out medals over the number of payouts.

  In the above-described detection technique, the medal is not directly detected but indirectly detected in relation to the mechanical movement of the count arm. For this reason, the reliability of the detection information is poor, and sufficient security against fraudulent acts cannot be obtained.

  In order to improve security, even if a detection means for detecting a medal after the operation of the count arm is newly added, the medal is detected at the rear stage of the count arm, and the medal is detected outside the medal payout exit. Will be detected. For this reason, even if a new detection means is provided, it is likely to be a target of fraudulent acts, and the security cannot be improved. In addition, it may be possible to newly provide a detection means for detecting a medal before the operation of the count arm. However, in this case, there is a problem that it is difficult to arrange in a limited space inside the apparatus. For example, it has been difficult to incorporate into a rotating disk existing inside the apparatus without hindrance or to have an adverse effect on the internal passage in the rotational direction.

JP 2001-52229 A JP 2000-222611

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a highly secure medal payout device and a gaming machine that can prevent overpayment of medals due to an illegal act at a medal payout exit.

  The present invention has a hopper for storing a large number of medals, and a medal receiving port disposed on the bottom of the hopper so as to freely rotate and accepting medals stored in the hopper by dropping under its own weight. The lowermost medal received in the medal receiving slot has a guide blade on the lower surface that rotates and feeds the medal receiving plane in a flat position, and the medal is in a flat position between the opposing surfaces of the lower base communicating with the medal receiving slot. A rotary disc having a rotary feed passage formed by communicating a passage space that can pass to the outer peripheral surface side, a drive mechanism for rotating the rotary disc, and the rotary feed passage as the rotary disc rotated by the drive mechanism rotates. The medals led to are continuously rotated and fed one by one toward the branch position with the medal payout passage that opens to the outer peripheral surface in the rotational feed direction and branches outward. A medal payout mechanism for changing the direction of the medal sent to the device from the rotary feed passage side to the medal payout passage side, and medal payout detection means for detecting that the medal payout mechanism pays out one medal. A medal payout device provided with a medal passage detection means for forming a widened area that is widened as the position approaches the branch position in the rotational feed passage, and for detecting the passage of medals in the widened area, The means is a medal payout device arranged at a position where the detection output is detected overlapping with a part of the detection output of the medal payout detection means.

  The widened region may be provided by smoothly widening the region immediately before the branch position of the rotary feed passage in a direction in which the outer peripheral side gradually expands as it approaches the branch position. Thereby, the detection area | region which avoided the rotation area | region of the rotating disk can be provided in a rotation feed path. By configuring so that a medal is detected in the rotary feed passage, it is possible to prevent an illegal act that causes both internal detection means to detect falsely from the outside.

  In particular, by obtaining an overlap detection output for detecting a part of the detection output of the medal passage detection means and a detection output of the medal payout detection means, a single medal guided to the branch position is obtained. Thus, continuous detection from the rotary feed passage side to the medal payout passage side becomes possible. As a result, the payout state such as the moving direction and payout speed of one medal until payout is accurately known, and if there is an abnormality in the payout of medals, it can be immediately detected. For example, even if the detection output of one medal payout detection unit is illegally operated from the outside, the detection output of the other medal passage detection unit cannot be illegally operated, and illegal acts can be prevented. . Therefore, it is possible to obtain a high-security detection structure excellent in anti-fraud measures that always provides a highly reliable detection output regardless of the presence or absence of fraud.

  As an aspect of the present invention, the medal passage detection means can be arranged so as to detect the medal guided to the branch position before the medal payout detection means detects it.

  The medal passage detection means detects a medal that passes through the branch position in the rotation feed passage before the medal payout detection means. For this reason, after the medal passage detection means detects the medal, the medal payout detection means detects the medal in accordance with the movement of the medal payout mechanism at the subsequent stage. In order to detect medals in such a detection order, the medal detection output is acquired earlier in the first stage even if an illegal act is performed from the outside so that the medal payout detection means detected in the latter stage is erroneously detected. Therefore, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not it is an illegal act.

  In addition, the medal passage detection means can directly and electrically detect the medal passing through the rotation feed passage by photoelectric detection or the like, and can detect the medal without requiring mechanical movement. Output is obtained.

  As an aspect of the present invention, the medal passage detection means has a timing before the medal payout detection timing at which the medal payout detection means detects that the payout of one medal paid out by the medal payout mechanism has ended. It can be configured to be set to a detection timing for detecting that a medal has passed through the medal passage detection means.

  The medal passage detection means first detects that the medal has passed the medal passage detection means before the medal payout detection means. Therefore, when one medal is paid out, the detection outputs of both detection means are already output, and it can be accurately detected that one medal has been paid out. For this reason, it is not possible to detect a medal that has been paid out, and a false detection such as redetecting a medal immediately after paying out is eliminated.

  As an aspect of the present invention, a sensor holder for holding the medal passage detection sensor is provided, the sensor holder is provided above the base of the widened region, and the lower surface of the sensor holder facing the base is opposed to the base. A medal payout guide surface that guides the payout of medals between the surfaces can be provided.

  The sensor holder not only holds the medal passage detection sensor, but also guides the upper surface by the medal payout guide surface provided on the lower surface thereof so that the medal immediately before the payout led here does not float, and is positioned at the rear stage. To the medal payout passage. For this reason, the medal passage detection means can detect the medal conveyed here in a stable state.

  As an example of the medal payout guide surface, it is preferable that the entrance portion through which the medal of the sensor holder passes is made wide, and is formed into an inclined guide surface that is gradually narrowed and carried in an inclined manner. In addition, it is suitable that the contact surface with the medal is provided with ribs that reduce the contact resistance with the medal in parallel with the medal conveyance direction.

  The medal passage detection means can be constituted by a reflection type detection sensor. Since the reflection type detection sensor is configured to detect reflected light, the reflection type detection sensor can be arranged on one side to be opposed to the upper surface side of the passage. For this reason, as compared with the U-shaped sensor, foreign matter is not accumulated on the sensor detection surface and cannot be detected.

As an aspect of the present invention, the sensor hole of the reflective detection sensor can be provided through the base immediately before the branch position on the rotary feed passage side.
If the sensor hole is opened, it can be used for removing foreign matter. In this case, even if foreign matter is mixed into the rotary feed passage, it can be removed immediately by dropping from the foreign matter removing hole. For this reason, it is possible to secure a highly reliable rotary feed passage that avoids adverse effects such as clogging caused by foreign matter.

  If the medal payout device configured as described above is used in a gaming machine, it is possible to operate a gaming machine having a high security detection structure that prevents excessive payout of medals.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a high-security detection structure that is excellent in preventing fraud in a medal payout portion that pays out and counts medals one by one.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The drawing shows a medal payout device for a slot machine installed in a game hall, and FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an internal structure in which a front door 12 of the slot machine 11 is opened from the slot machine main body 13 in a single-opening manner.

  On the opened slot machine main body 13 side, a control board 11a on which a control unit for controlling the game of the slot machine 11 is mounted is built in the upper part. In addition, three rows of reels 14 are installed in the upper part to use the game by rotating and stopping the position of the pattern on the outer peripheral surface. Furthermore, a medal payout device 15 for taking in and paying out medals m is installed in the lower center, a power supply device 16 is installed on the left side, and an overflow tank 17 is installed on the right side.

  On the other hand, the inner surface on the front door 12 side has a reel cover 18, a medal sorting device (medal selector) 19, a medal return passage 20, a payout connection port 21a, and a return port 21b in this order from the upper surface. ing. And the outer surface of this front door 12 is provided as a customer service surface, and various game operation parts are installed. The medals m inserted at the time of playing the slot machine 11 are taken into the medal sorting device 19, and after being sorted here, the medals m permitted to be accepted are transported to the medal payout device 15. On the other hand, the excluded medals rejected by the medal sorting device 19 are returned to the lower plate (not shown) of the front door 12 through the medal return passage 20 and the return port 21b.

  Next, the medal payout device 15 will be described. As shown in the perspective views of FIGS. 2 and 3, the medal payout device 15 is configured by mounting a rotating disk 23 and a hopper tank (hereinafter referred to as a hopper) 24 on a base block 22.

  The hopper 24 stores a large number of medals m in an internal space having an inverted quadrangular pyramid shape whose upper surface is opened, and guides the stored medals m to the center portion of the lower inverted quadrangular pyramid shape by its own weight. It has a storage structure.

  Further, the hopper 24 is provided with an overflow chute 25 for transferring the surplus medals to the overflow tank 17 when surplus medals are generated when the number of stored medals exceeds the storage limit number. The overflow chute 25 has an inclination angle that allows the medal m to be smoothly inclined and transferred, and is arranged along one corner of the upper part in the hopper 24. The surplus medals guided to the overflow chute 25 are discharged from an overflow discharge port 26 opened on one side wall surface of the hopper 24, and the discharged surplus medals are stored in the overflow tank 17 corresponding to the lower side.

  Further, a lower connecting portion 27 (see FIG. 2) for fixing the hopper 24 to the base block 22 is provided on one side wall of the lower portion of the hopper 24, and between the internal space of the hopper 24 and the overflow chute 25. A discharge port cover 28 (see FIG. 3) is provided to allow only overflowed medals to flow into the overflow tank 17.

  Further, a medal payout opening 29 is provided between the joint surfaces at the boundary of the one side wall where the hopper 24 and the base block 22 are vertically arranged so that the medals m are paid out one by one in a plane posture. The medal payout port 29 is connected in correspondence with the payout connection port 21a leading to the lower plate of the slot machine 11.

  The base block 22 has a square shape as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 4, and a base inclined surface 30 is formed on the upper surface of the base block 22 by inclining the entire upper surface by a certain angle (for example, 30 degrees). Have. The rotating disk 23, the hopper 24, and the medal direct detection mechanism 31 are mounted on the upper surface of the base inclined surface 30. Further, as shown in the base bottom view of FIG. 5, the base block 22 has a lower surface (back surface side) of the base inclined surface 30 formed hollow, and the drive mechanism 32 of the rotating disk 23 and the medal indirect detection mechanism are formed in the back surface hollow portion. 33 is installed.

  A shaft hole opened at the center of the rotary disk 23 is formed in the central portion of the upper surface of the inclined base 30 on the rotary shaft 34 projecting upward from the drive mechanism 32 installed on the rear surface of the base block 22. 42 is inserted and connected. In this case, an anti-rotation pin 34a (see FIG. 6) is provided at the upper end portion of the rotating shaft 34 so as to intersect with the shaft hole 42 and a horizontally long opening 42a (described later). Are connected together. Accordingly, when the drive mechanism 32 is driven to rotate the rotary shaft 34, the rotary disk 23 integrated therewith is rotated.

  Further, a medal payout passage 35 communicating with the medal payout outlet 29 is formed between one end portion on the upper surface side of the base inclined surface 30 and the outer peripheral surface of the rotary disk 23. The medal payout passage 35 is a groove-shaped passage through which one medal can be paid out in a flat posture. The outer end portion of the medal payout passage 35 communicates with the medal payout outlet 29, and the inner end portion is The rotating disk 23 is connected to one opening on the outer peripheral surface. Therefore, the medal m sent out from the rotary disk 23 is sent out to the medal payout passage 35 in a flat posture.

  Further, on both sides of the upper surface of the inclined lower portion of the base block 22, there are attachment / detachment openings 36 for hooking and attaching the lower connecting portion 27 of the hopper 24 detachably. Further, a hooking portion 22 a of the hopper 24 is provided on the inclined upper side of the base block 22.

  The drive mechanism 32 uses a motor M mounted on one side of a motor mounting base (see FIG. 5) 38 as a driving source, and a driving gear (not shown) integrated with the output shaft of the motor M built in the motor mounting base 38. When the driven gear for deceleration is engaged, and this driven gear is engaged with the gear on the rotating shaft 34, the rotational force is transmitted to the rotating disk 23 connected to the rotating shaft 34. Thus, the rotating disk 23 is rotated at a constant speed based on the driving of the motor M.

  Next, the structure of the rotating disk 23 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the relationship with the rotary disk 23 mounted on the base block 22, FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the rotary disk 23 as viewed from above, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the rotary disk 23 as viewed from below. FIG.

  The rotating disk 23 has an integrated structure in which a disk 39 on the upper surface and a disk base 40 on the lower surface are stacked one above the other and are circumferentially fastened by a plurality of screws 41.

  First, as shown in FIG. 7, the disk 39 of the upper surface layer penetrates the shaft hole 42 in the vertical direction at the center of the circular plate. As shown in FIG. 8, the shaft hole 42 is provided with a horizontally long opening 42 a through which the pin 34 a is inserted in a part of the lower surface, and the rotation shaft 34 and the shaft hole 42 and the opening 42 a are connected to the shaft hole 42. The pin 34a is aligned and inserted from the lower surface side, and is screwed and fixed from the upper surface side with a bolt 43 via a washer 43a, so that the disk 39 and the rotating shaft 34 are prevented from rotating and integrally connected. Yes.

  Further, the disk 39 penetrates a circular medal receiving opening 44 opened in a vertical direction at a position on a concentric circle obtained by dividing the circumferential direction about the shaft hole 42 into six equal parts so that one medal is lowered in a plane posture. Provided. These medal receiving ports 44 are formed with a taper guide portion 44a on the upper surface side for smoothly receiving the medal m from above. Further, the disk 39 has a central portion made high and a peripheral portion made low so as to protrude in a substantially conical shape. Thereby, the stored medals m are dispersed from the central portion of the disk 39 and are naturally supplied to the respective medal receiving ports 44 around the medals m.

  Further, on the lower surface of the disk 39, there are six guide blades 45 corresponding to each medal receiving port 44. The guide blades 45 are respectively formed between the medal receiving ports 44 adjacent in the circumferential direction, and guide a part of the outer peripheral surface of the medal m guided to the lowermost layer of the medal receiving port 44. It has a shape. Since these six guide blades 45 correspond to the upper medal receiving ports 44, when the medal m descends the medal receiving port 44, the medal m is subjected to centrifugal force during rotation by the guide blade 45. Received and guided in the direction of rotational feed.

  In addition, between the upper and lower opposing surfaces of the base block 22 and the rotating disk 23, an annular shape is formed around the rotating shaft 34 in order to reduce the load on the motor M caused by the load of the medal m stored in the hopper 24. A plurality of metal flat washers W1 and resinous thrust washers W2 are interposed.

  The disk base 40 of the lower surface layer is an annular plate having an outer diameter dimension substantially the same as that of the disk 39. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the upper surface disk 39 and the lower surface disk base 40 are connected to each other by screwing them up and down 41 so that these two members 39, 40 have a two-layer structure and are integrated. As a result, a rotating disk 23 is obtained. A rotation feed passage 46 (see FIG. 6) for the medals m for rotating and feeding the medals m one by one is formed between the two layers of the rotary disk 23.

  The rotary feed passage 46 circulates in a planar passage space for one medal between the upper and lower opposing surfaces of the upper disk 39 and the lower disk base 40 communicating with the medal receiving port 44 of the disk 39. The passage space is provided in communication with the outer peripheral surface side. Specifically, it is a space surrounded by the guide blade 45, the lower surface of the disk 39, and the upper surface of the disk base 40, and the medal m reaching here is the medal m by the guide blade 45 as the rotating disk 23 rotates. The upper surface of the medal m is guided by the lower surface of the disk 39 while the lower surface of the medal m is guided by the disc base 40 and a base passage 47 described later, and the medal m is rotated and fed one by one. . In this case, in order to secure a passage for one medal, the space between the upper and lower surfaces of the disk 39 and the disk base 40 is set to a size slightly larger than the thickness of about one medal, and the disk base 40 is placed on the disk 39. It is attached to the bottom surface. Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary disk 23 communicating with the outer peripheral surface of the rotary feed passage 46, an outer peripheral surface opening 46a for feeding medals that is equally divided in the circumferential direction is opened.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a circular concave base passage 47 is formed in the central portion of the base inclined surface 30 of the base block 22 to attach the rotating disk 23 by being slightly submerged.

  The base passage 47 has an annular groove 48 corresponding to the disk base 40 on the outer peripheral surface side, and a plurality of dust drop holes 49 are opened in the circumferential direction of the bottom surface of the annular groove 48. Further, the annular groove 48 serves as a relief groove for the head of the screw 41 projecting downward when the disk 39 and the disk base 40 having a two-layer structure are integrally connected to the disk base 40 by fastening them with the screw 41 from above. ing. In addition, an inner peripheral guide surface 50 is provided on the inner peripheral surface side of the base passage 47 to guide the rotation of the medal m as the rotating disk 23 rotates.

  The rotating disk 23 rotates clockwise in the figure, and the medal m guided to the rotation feed passage 46 with the rotation of the rotating disk 23 is maintained in a flat posture from the lower inclined side on the base inclined surface 30 to the higher inclined side. And a passage structure that continuously rotates and feeds one by one toward the medal payout passage 35 that is branched and connected to the outer peripheral surface on the inclined high position side in the rotational feed direction.

  An outer peripheral guide surface 51 is formed on the outer peripheral side of the base passage 47 facing the inner peripheral guide surface 50 formed on the inner peripheral side of the base passage 47. The medal m guided here is rotated and guided to the guide blade 45 in a flat posture, and the inner end side of the medal m is guided by the inner peripheral guide surface 50, and the outer end side of the medal m is outer peripheral guide surface. Guided by 51, the direction is changed from the rotation feed passage 46 side on the base passage 47 to the medal payout passage 35 side and paid out.

  FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an essential part showing an opening portion of the branch position P between the rotary feed passage 46 and the medal payout passage 35. The starting end side of the medal payout passage 35 is opened and connected to the terminal end side of the rotation feed passage 46. At the branch position P between the medal payout passage 35 and the rotary feed passage 46, a medal payout mechanism for paying out the sent medal m by changing the direction from the rotary feed passage 46 side to the medal payout passage 35 side. A counter roller R is provided. Further, a medal direct detection mechanism 31 that detects the medal m before the payout operation is disposed in the preceding stage of the branch position P. The count roller R is provided with an indirect medal detection mechanism 33 (see FIG. 5) that detects the movement of the count roller R.

  At the branch position P between the rotation feed passage 46 and the medal payout passage 35, a cutout hole 56 is provided on the upper side thereof so as to open a part of the base inclined surface 30 along the outer peripheral surface of the rotary disk 23. Yes. The count roller R is interposed on the front end side (branch position side) of the cutout hole 56 so as to protrude from the cutout hole 56 to the upper surface.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the count roller R is pivotally supported at one end of a count arm 57. Further, the count roller R is biased by the count arm return spring 58 to a position where the count arm 57 itself comes into contact with a stopper piece 57b provided for the count arm stopper so as to stand by on the front end side of the cutout hole 56. I am letting. Accordingly, the urging force acts in the direction in which the count roller R receives and pushes back the medal m that has been rotationally fed to the branching position, and the count roller R follows the movement of the medal m and moves forward and backward in the rotational feed direction and is displaced. As a result, when the medal m reaches the entrance of the medal payout passage 35 (passage branch position P) from the rotation feed passage 46 side, the medal m is moved approximately 90 degrees from the rotation feed passage 46 side to the medal payout passage 35 side. You can change direction and play.

  A count sensor S as the medal indirect detection mechanism 33 is disposed at a position corresponding to the other end of the count arm 57. The count sensor S photoelectrically detects the position of the sensor light-shielding piece 57a at the other end of the count arm by the biasing action of the count arm return spring 58. In a standby state where the count roller R is not receiving the rotational feed force of the medal m, the light is shielded from light between the slit portions of the count sensor S.

  On the other hand, in the medal detection state in which the count roller R receives the rotational feed force of the medal m, the sensor light-shielding piece 57a of the count arm 57 moves between the slit portions of the count sensor S against the urging force of the count arm return spring 58. It reciprocates so as to cross, and the slit portion of the count sensor S is temporarily opened to turn it on. Thereafter, the medal m is sent out from the rotational feed passage 46 to the medal payout passage 35 and the count arm 57 returns to the original position, so that the count sensor S returns to the OFF state again. As described above, the medal indirect detection mechanism 33 is indirectly detected by the count sensor S based on the movement of the count roller R and the count arm 57, based on the movement of the medal m.

  Of the passage width on the start end side of the medal payout passage 35, a metal payout plate 60 having good durability is disposed on the lower inclined side of the base inclined surface 30. The payout plate 60 is disposed to face the count roller R, and the medal m is paid out between the payout plate 60 and the count roller R. A medal direct detection mechanism 31 that detects the inside of the rotary feed passage 46 is disposed on the upper surface of the payout plate 60.

  The medal direct detection mechanism 31 includes a reflection type detection sensor 61 and a sensor holder 62 for holding the same. The reflection type detection sensor 61 has a horizontally long rectangular shape, has a screw-fastening hole 61a at one end, and a connector portion 61b for connecting a sensor harness to the other end. In addition, a light projecting / receiving unit (not shown) that projects sensor light downward on the lower surface and receives reflected light from the medal is provided.

  FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the sensor holder 62 as viewed obliquely from below. The sensor holder 62 has a sensor mounting portion 63 for storing and holding the reflection type detection sensor 61 in the horizontal direction at the upper part, and inserting the screw of the sensor holder 62 in a state where the reflection type detection sensor 61 is stored therein. The reflective detection sensor 61 is integrally fixed to the sensor holder 62 by being screwed through the screw 64 from the hole 64 through the screw 65 through the screw fixing hole 61a. In addition, the lower surface of the sensor mounting portion 63 corresponding to the light projecting / receiving portion on the lower surface of the reflective detection sensor 61 has an opening 66 penetrating for light projecting / receiving.

  The sensor holder 62 has a mounting block portion 67 and a medal payout guide surface 68 formed on the left and right at the bottom. Among these, the screw fixing hole 69 provided on the mounting block 67 side is screwed into the screw fixing hole 60a on the upper surface of the payout plate 60 through the screw 65. The sensor holder 62 is mounted by fitting a positioning hole 70 formed in a recess in the lower surface of the mounting block 67 to a positioning boss 60b protruding from the upper surface of the payout plate 60 adjacent to the screwed portion. It is attached to the regular position of the dispensing plate 60 with high accuracy.

  On the other hand, the medal payout guide surface 68 protrudes substantially horizontally toward the upper surface of the base block 22 at the branch position P, and as shown in FIG. 11, an entrance portion through which the medal m in a horizontal posture guided by the sensor holder 62 passes. It is formed on an inclined guide surface 68a which guides the carry-in of the medal m, which is wider and narrower than this. The rib 68b for decreasing the contact resistance with the medal m is suspended from the contact surface with the medal m in parallel with the medal transport direction.

  As described above, the sensor holder 62 not only holds the reflection type detection sensor 61 but also the medal m so that the medal m immediately before paying out led by the medal paying guide surface 68 provided on the lower surface thereof does not float. The upper surface of the sheet can be guided and conveyed. For this reason, the medal m immediately before paying out is stably conveyed, and the reflection type detection sensor 61 accurately detects the medal m conveyed here, thereby promoting a stable payout operation of the medal.

  Further, the sensor holder 62 covers and protects the reflective detection sensor 61 so that it is not illegally operated from the outside. Further, when the reflection type detection sensor 61 is mounted, the sensor light is projected toward the sensor hole 71 opened on the upper surface of the base block 22 corresponding to the rotation feed passage 46, and the sensor hole 71. This portion is set as a detection region of the reflection type detection sensor 61, and the medal m passing there is directly photoelectrically detected.

  The sensor holder 62 not only houses and protects the reflection type detection sensor 61 but also faces the upper surfaces of the rotation feed passage 46 and the medal payout passage 35 to form a part of both passages 46 and 35. ing. In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, in order to provide grounding for the medal payout device 15, a ground plate 73 is disposed near each of the bottom surfaces of the frame 72 that contacts the motor M and the slot machine 11, and the ground plate 73 is They are connected by a grounding harness 74.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 12, the rotary feed passage 46 forms a widened region 75 that is widened as it approaches the branch position P. The widened region 75 is provided so that the region immediately before the branch position P of the rotary feed passage 46 is smoothly widened in a direction in which the outer peripheral side gradually expands as the branch position P is approached. Thereby, the detection area of the reflection type detection sensor 61 that avoids the rotation area of the rotary disk 23 can be provided in the rotary feed passage 46. The widened region 75 is provided with the reflective detection sensor 61 for detecting the passage of the medal m and its sensor hole 71.

  The reflection type detection sensor 61 is configured to detect the medal m in the rotary feed passage 46, thereby preventing an illegal act that causes the internal sensors 61, S to be erroneously detected from the outside. ing. Further, the reflection type detection sensor 61 is arranged so that the detection output is detected at a position where the detection output overlaps with a part of the detection output of the count sensor S.

  By obtaining an overlap detection output (see FIG. 14) of both sensors 61 and S that detect a part of the detection output of the reflection type detection sensor 61 and a detection output of the count sensor S in an overlapping manner, the branch position P is obtained. Can be continuously detected from the rotation feed passage 46 side to the medal payout passage 35 side. This makes it possible to accurately know the payout state such as the moving direction of one medal m until it is paid out, and to detect immediately if there is an abnormality in the medal payout, and to improve the detection capability for the payout medal. it can. Therefore, even if the detection output of one count sensor S is illegally operated from the outside, it cannot be illegally operated until the detection output of the other reflection type detection sensor 61, and illegal acts can be prevented. . Therefore, it is possible to obtain a high-security detection structure excellent in anti-fraud measures that always provides a highly reliable detection output regardless of the presence or absence of fraud.

  Further, the reflection type detection sensor 61 is arranged so that the medal m guided to the branch position P is detected before the count sensor S detects it. Thereby, the reflection type detection sensor 61 detects the medal m passing the branch position P first. Therefore, after the reflection type detection sensor 61 detects the medal m, the detection order is such that the count sensor S that detects the medal m at the subsequent stage detects the medal m. Since the medal m is detected in such a detection order, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not it is a fraudulent act even if a fraudulent act is performed from the outside so as to misdetect the count sensor S to be detected later. Further, the reflection type detection sensor 61 can electrically detect the medal m passing through the rotary feed passage 46 directly by photoelectric detection or the like, and can detect the medal m without requiring mechanical movement. Accurate detection output can be obtained.

  Further, the reflection type detection sensor 61 receives the medal m at a timing before the medal payout detection timing at which the count sensor S detects that the payout operation of one medal m paid out by the count roller R is finished. The detection timing is set to detect that the reflection type detection sensor 61 has been passed. Thereby, the reflection type detection sensor 61 first detects that the medal m has passed through the reflection type detection sensor 61 in the preceding stage of the count sensor S. Therefore, when one medal m is paid out, the detection outputs of both sensors 61 and S are both detected and confirmed, and it is possible to accurately confirm that one medal m has been paid out. For this reason, there is no false detection due to duplication detection that re-detects one medal m that has been paid out. For example, the situation where it becomes impossible to distinguish whether or not the medal m immediately after the payout is the counted medal m is solved.

In addition, by using the reflection type detection sensor 61, one side can be arranged on the upper surface side of the rotation feed passage 46. For this reason, it can be incorporated as a small detection means above the base of the rotary feed passage 46.
Furthermore, as compared with the U-shaped sensor, foreign matters are not accumulated on the sensor detection surface and cannot be detected.

  Further, the sensor hole 71 of the reflection type detection sensor 61 can be opened to make a foreign object exclusion hole. As the sensor hole 71, for example, a long hole along the rotation direction is suitable for removing foreign substances. Therefore, even if foreign matter enters the rotary feed passage 46, it can be immediately dropped from the sensor hole 71 and eliminated, so that a reliable rotary feed passage 46 that avoids adverse effects such as clogging due to foreign matter can be secured.

The payout processing operation of the medal payout device 15 configured as described above will be described with reference to the explanatory diagrams of FIGS.
When a medal payout number signal is output from the control unit of the slot machine 11 when paying out the medal m to the player, the motor M of the medal payout device 15 is driven to rotate the output shaft 34 (right rotation in plan view). Is done. The rotating disk 23 connected to the output shaft 34 and the disk base 40 fastened to the rotating disk 23 also rotate in the same direction. According to the rotation of the rotating disk 23, the medals m stored in the hopper 24 are sequentially guided to the medal receiving port 44 of the rotating disk 23, and the medal m entering the medal receiving port 44 descends, and the lowermost medal m Reaches the upper surface of the base passage 47. The medal m reaching here descends away from the medal receiving port 44 and is rotated and fed by the guide blade 45. Thereafter, the medal m advances along the base passage 47 and is pushed out from the outer peripheral surface opening 46 a of the rotary disk 23.

  As shown in FIG. 13 (A), the medal m pushed outward is rotated and fed along the inner peripheral guide surface 50 or the outer peripheral guide surface 51 of the base passage 47, and the medal m is shown in FIG. 13 (B). As shown, when the detection area of the reflective detection sensor 61 is crossed, the reflected light from the medal m is obtained and the reflective detection sensor 61 is turned on. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 13C, the medal m is sent to the branch position P between the rotation feed passage 46 and the medal payout passage 35 and comes into contact with the count roller R arranged at the branch position P. As shown in FIG. 13D, the abutted medal m receives the rotational force of the guide blade 45 and is further pushed outward to push the count roller R biased by the count arm return spring 58. Continue pushing in the same rotational direction to widen the entrance of the medal payout passage 35.

  At that time, the count arm 57 integrated with the count roller R also rotates in the same direction, the sensor light-shielding piece 57a of the count arm 57 is removed from between the slit portions of the count sensor S, and the count sensor S is turned off. . Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 13E and 13F, the medal m moves toward the medal payout passage 35 and is out of the detection area of the reflective detection sensor 61 so that the reflective detection sensor 61 is OFF. It becomes.

  Thereafter, the medal m flipped off by the count roller R is changed in direction by approximately 90 degrees and is paid out. When the medal m moves toward the medal payout exit 29, as shown in FIG. 13 (G), the medal m Is disengaged from the count roller R, and the count arm 57 is moved in the original return direction by the count arm return spring 58. At that time, the sensor light-shielding piece 57a of the count arm 57 crosses the slit portion of the count sensor S, stops at the stopper piece 57b, and the count sensor S is turned on again.

  As described above, when the medal m is paid out, the medal m is paid out from the rotary feed passage 46 through the medal payout passage 35, and the single medal m to be paid out before the payout operation is detected by the detection information of the plurality of sensors 61 and S. Therefore, the detection state of the medal m can be accurately managed.

Next, a detection state when the count sensor S and the reflection type detection sensor 61 at the time of medal payout detect one medal m will be described with reference to a timing chart of FIG.
The count sensor S detects the movement of the count arm 57 in conjunction with the displacement operation of the count roller R that is displaced in the rotational feed direction following the movement of the medal m. It is detected that the payout path 46 has been paid out to the medal payout path 35.

  The reflection type detection sensor 61 detects the medal m in the widened region 75 before the branch position P provided in the rotation feed passage 46. Therefore, the medal m is detected before the count sensor S. Further, an overlap detection time zone (overlap) that overlaps with a part of the medal detection time zone in which the count sensor S is detecting (OFF) the medal m and becomes an overlap detection output that is detected (ON) by the reflective detection sensor 61. By providing the detection timing (T), it is possible to continuously detect one medal guided to the branch position from the rotation feed passage 46 side to the medal payout passage 35 side. It is possible to accurately detect whether or not the medal m that has been paid out has passed. Since the plurality of sensors S and 61 detect the movement of the medal m before the payout operation along the medal payout direction, the payout operation of the medal m can be accurately detected. Even if an attempt is made to illegally manipulate the detection output from the outside, it is difficult to perform an illegal act up to the detection area of the reflective detection sensor 61 which is the inner part of the medal payout outlet 29, and a high-security detection output can be obtained. It can be secured.

  As described above, not only the medals are accurately detected and counted at the branch position where the medals are paid out one by one from the rotary feed passage side to the medal payout passage side, but also detected in advance from the inside. As a result, a high-security medal payout device can be obtained that can increase the detection capability and prevent illegal acts on the medal payout exit.

In correspondence between the configuration of the present invention and the configuration of the above-described embodiment,
The medal passage detection means of the present invention corresponds to the reflective detection sensor 61 of the embodiment,
Similarly,
The medal payout detection means corresponds to the count sensor S,
The medal payout mechanism corresponds to the support structure including the count roller R and the count arm return spring 58,
Although the gaming machine corresponds to the slot machine 11, the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and can be applied based on the technical idea described in the claims.

The perspective view which shows the internal structure of a slot machine. The external appearance perspective view which shows a medal payout apparatus. The perspective view which shows the inside of the hopper of a medal payout apparatus. The perspective view which shows the state which removed the hopper of the medal dispensing apparatus. The perspective view which shows the lower surface side of a medal payout apparatus. The principal part disassembled perspective view which decomposes | disassembles and shows the support structure of a rotating disk. The perspective view which looked at the rotating disk from the upper surface side. The perspective view which looked at the rotating disk from the lower surface side. The perspective view which decomposes | disassembles and shows the medal direct detection mechanism on a base block. The perspective view which looked at the sensor holder from the lower surface side. Explanatory drawing which shows the guide state of the medal in a sensor holder. The top view of the base block which shows a branch position and a wide area | region. Operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the payout state of a medal. The time chart which shows medal payout operation.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Slot machine 15 ... Medal paying device 35 ... Medal paying passage 46 ... Rotation feed passage 61 ... Reflection type detection sensor 62 ... Sensor holder 75 ... Widening area P ... Branch position S ... Count sensor R ... Count roller T ... Overlap detection time band

Claims (7)

A hopper that stores a large number of medals,
The hopper is rotatably arranged at the bottom of the hopper, has a medal receiving opening on the upper surface for receiving the medal stored in the hopper by its own weight, and the lowermost medal received in the medal receiving opening is flat. A guide blade that rotates and feeds in a posture is provided on the lower surface, and a passage space through which a medal can pass in a flat posture is communicated to the outer peripheral surface side between a surface facing a lower base communicating with the medal receiving port. A rotating disk having a rotating feed passage;
A drive mechanism for rotating the rotating disk;
The medal guided to the rotary feed passage with the rotation of the rotating disk rotated by the drive mechanism is directed to the branch position with the medal payout passage that opens to the outer peripheral surface in the rotational feed direction and branches outward. A medal payout mechanism that continuously rotates one by one and changes the direction of the medals sent to the branch position from the rotary feed passage side to the medal payout passage side;
Medal payout detection means for detecting that the medal payout mechanism has paid out one medal;
A medal payout device comprising:
In the rotary feed passage, a widened region that is widened as it approaches the branch position,
A medal passage detection means for detecting the passage of medals is provided in the widened area,
The medal passing detection means is a medal payout device arranged at a position where the detection output is detected overlapping with a part of the detection output of the medal payout detection means. The medal payout device according to claim 1, wherein the medal passing detection means is arranged so that the medal guided to the branch position is detected before the medal payout detection means detects. The medal passage detection means detects the medal passage detection at a timing before the medal payout detection timing when the medal payout detection means detects that the medal payout mechanism has finished paying out one medal to be paid out by the medal payout mechanism. The medal payout device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the medal payout device is set to a detection timing for detecting that the passage has been completed. A sensor holder for holding the medal passage detection sensor is provided, the sensor holder is provided above the base of the widened region, and the medal is flattened on the lower surface of the sensor holder facing the base between the facing surfaces of the base. 4. The medal payout device according to claim 1, further comprising a medal payout guide surface for guiding the payout. The medal payout device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the medal passage detection means is configured by a reflection type detection sensor. The medal payout device according to claim 5, wherein a sensor hole of the reflection type detection sensor is provided through a base immediately before a branch position on the rotary feed passage side.   A gaming machine comprising the medal payout device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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