JP2010097237A - Disk distribution device for disk dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a disk distribution device configured to introduce a disk by forming a chute so that a disk to be discharged from the upper end of a guidance path is ejected from another exit by an escalator device, and to make the disk drop at slow speed in the chute so that the disk is stably distributed without being disordered. <P>SOLUTION: The disk dispenser is configured to discharge a disk d pushed up in a guidance path 2 from an upper end discharge port 14 by a disk sending means, and to dispense the disk from an upper first exit 21. The disk distribution device of the disk dispenser is configured of: a drop chute 20 of a disk branched from the upstream side of the first exit 21, and communicatively formed so as to be made adjacent to the guidance path 2 in order to introduce, drop and guide the disk from the discharge port 14; exits 22 and 23 formed at the lower part of the drop chute for discharging the disk; and a plurality of protrusions 40 formed so as to be protruded and butted to the dropping disk on the internal face of the dropping chute for suppressing the dropping speed of the disk. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a disc dispensing device in which a disc fed from a coin hopper device is transported upward in a guide passage by an escalator device and discharged from an outlet at the upper end of the guide passage.
In particular, the present invention relates to a disk distribution device of a disk dispensing apparatus configured to guide a disk discharged from the escalator device to an outlet different from the outlet at the upper end and distribute the disk in a desired direction.
Note that the “disc” used in this specification includes coins as currency, substitute money such as medals and tokens of game machines, and the like.

As this type of disc dispensing apparatus, for example, those disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-172272 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-293305 are known.
In the former, a guide passage that is vertically extended upward by an escalator device after a disc housed in a hopper of a coin hopper device is sent out by a rotating disc having a through hole disposed at the bottom of the tank. Is pushed up and discharged from the outlet at the upper end of the guide passage to the side.
In the latter case, similarly, a disk dispensing device is configured such that a disk pushed up the guide passage of the escalator device can be selectively dispensed from the left and right outlets at the upper end.
Here, in the case of a gaming machine in which a disc is played by two players using a disc as a game medium by ejecting the disc not only from one exit but also from two exits as in the latter disc dispensing device. The discs can be distributed and supplied appropriately to two players.

JP-A-007-172272

JP-A-8-293051

However, in recent years, game machines that play with two or more players have appeared, and the need to distribute discs has become more than one.
Conventionally, the multiple distribution is performed by using a plurality of coin delivery devices, or by using a plurality of chutes arranged so as to further branch a connecting path connected to the tip of one outlet and connect to each distribution port. There were many.
With this measure, the number of coin delivery devices (coin hopper devices) increases, resulting in high costs, a complicated discharge path configuration with multiple shoots, and a longer total length of shoots. There were problems such as being difficult to deal with changes in specifications, such as having difficulty in setting a new shoot route when the position of the exit changed or the number of exits changed. .
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is configured such that a disk can be branched in the middle from the guide passage to the outlet, introduced by a chute, and guided to fall, and distributed to a plurality from the middle of the chute. The disc can be formed in a chute with a structure so that it can be released and a distribution path can be easily formed, and the falling speed of the disc is reduced, and the momentum (acceleration) of dropping is suppressed at the exit. It is an object of the present invention to provide a disc distribution device that prevents the disc from bouncing off and can be discharged stably.

In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a disk delivery means for delivering the disks in the hopper one by one from the delivery outlet, and a guide passage extending substantially vertically upward in which the delivered disks are pushed up and transferred in a line. And a disc ejection device having a disc discharge port provided at an upper end of the guide passage, and a first outlet formed above the discharge port, which is communicated with the discharge port.
A drop chute for the disk formed so as to be in contact with and formed to be branched from the upstream side of the first outlet so as to introduce and guide the disk from the discharge port; An outlet for discharging a disk provided below the chute, and a plurality of disk drop speed control protrusions protrudingly formed on the inner surface of the dropping chute so as to come into contact with the falling disk. .

According to the present invention, the drop chute is formed to extend to a predetermined length in a positional relationship between the guide passage and the front and back, and has a plurality of outlets, and the protrusion protrudes obliquely downward on the opposing inner surface of the drop chute. In addition, they are arranged to face each other in a zigzag pattern.
According to this configuration, the disk can be guided to the outlet different from the upper first outlet by the dropping chute. Then, the disc can be discharged from the outlet located at a position lower than the first outlet provided in the drop chute.
At that time, on the inner surface of the dropping chute, there are a plurality of protrusions arranged in the vertical direction along the falling direction of the disk so that the falling process until the disk reaches its outlet. In order to hit the protrusions one after another, the speed of falling is suppressed (decreased) each time, so when you reach the lower exit point, when you drop a plain general drop chute with no protrusions on the inner surface It is not as fast as a disc.
Therefore, when the disc exits from the exit, the disc does not jump or flutter as much as conventional. Therefore, it will not be disturbed in various directions.

As a result, the direction in which the disk comes out is almost determined, so that the installation direction of the communication chute for receiving the disk is uniformly determined, and the installation can be easily performed.
In addition, it is possible to stably distribute discs in a desired direction, a desired number of outlets, and a desired position by changing the height position in the middle of the chute and providing an outlet appropriately by using a drop chute with an appropriate length. As a result, the distribution path can be constructed more easily than the conventional distribution path.
Further, since the protrusions are arranged in a staggered pattern, the speed reduction effect on the disk can be obtained efficiently and high. Also, by arranging the drop chute on the back side of the escalator device, the installation space for the drop chute can be reduced, and the entire device can be miniaturized.

Hereinafter, a disk distribution device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a disc dispensing device 1 in which the disc d pushes up the guide passage 2 of the escalator device 10 and is discharged from the discharge port 14 at the upper end, as seen from the front side. Is a perspective view from the back side, and on the back side of the guide passage 2 there is a fall chute 20 in which the disc is detoured from the upper end to the lower side, and the fall chute 20 is provided on the back side of the guide passage 2. The disc d can be dispensed from a plurality of outlets.
3 is a front view of the disk dispensing apparatus 1 corresponding to FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a rear view of the disk dispensing apparatus 1 corresponding to FIG.

The disc dispensing device 1 has a sending device 1G for sending out one disc at a time, which is called a coin hopper device, and the sending device 1G has a frame 3 and a hopper 5 installed on an inclined upper surface 4 of the frame 3. The hopper 5 accommodates a large amount of discs. On the inner bottom surface of the hopper 5, a rotating disk (not shown) that is driven to rotate by a motor 6 (see FIG. 4) is installed.
A plurality of through holes are formed in the rotating disk, and when the rotating disk rotates, the disks d accommodated in the hopper 5 are successively dropped into the through holes, and the depressed disk d is provided on the lower surface of the rotating disk. Is pushed by a push-out claw (not shown) and moves on the frame upper surface 4 which is the installation surface of the inclined disk of the frame 3 in the upper end direction (upper right direction in FIG. 1). It is sent out from the delivery port 9 (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

The aforementioned escalator device 10 is connected to the delivery port 9, and a guide passage 2 extending vertically upward of the escalator device 10 communicates with and communicates with the delivery port 9. The escalator device 10 is firmly attached and fixed to the frame 3.
The guide passage 2 of the escalator device 10 includes a vertically long rectangular base 11, a pair of elongated rectangular spacers (not shown) slightly thicker than the thickness of the disk d, and a pair of support plates 12, 12 applied to the spacers. It is composed of
The distance between the pair of spacers 12 and 12 is slightly larger than the diameter of the disk d. The support plates 12 and 12 and the spacer are vertically fixed to both ends of the base 11 by fixing screws 13 so that they are integrated.
As a result, a guide space is formed in the guide passage 2 for guiding and transferring a disk having a rectangular cross section extending in the vertical direction.

The disc d fed from the hopper 5 by the rotating disc and entered the guide passage 2 from the delivery port 9 is pushed up by the subsequent disc d with the guide passage 2 aligned in a line.
A discharge port 14 through which the disk d is discharged is formed at the upper end of the guide passage 2. The discharge port 14 is a side port with one side opened obliquely.
The discharge port 14 is provided with a ejecting mechanism 15 for ejecting the disk d in a direction substantially perpendicular to the guide passage 2. The disk d is ejected laterally (laterally) from the discharge port 14 by the ejecting mechanism 15.
A first outlet 21 having a short passage structure is formed in communication with the discharge port 14, and the disk d is discharged from the first outlet 21 to the outside of the escalator device 10.
A connecting chute 17 having a required length is connected to the first outlet 21, and the disc is guided to the first payout outlet 31 at the tip of the first chute 17 to be paid out.

By the way, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4, etc., the upstream side of the first outlet 21 can be used so that the disc can be discharged from another outlet in addition to the first outlet 21 located above. A drop chute 20 branched from the side point and introduced to guide the drop by introducing the disk d exiting from the discharge port 14 is formed in communication.
The upper end of the drop chute 20 faces and communicates with the outlet passage 16 of the first outlet.
The dropping chute 20 is formed with a predetermined length behind the guide passage 2 so as to extend straight down.
As a result, the disk d ejected from the discharge port 14 at the upper end of the guide passage 20 can be guided toward the drop chute 20. The disk d that has entered the drop chute 20 falls in the drop chute 20 and can be distributed from the outlet 23 provided at the lower end thereof or the outlet 22 provided in the middle thereof.

Next, the structure of this point will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, a disc dropping chute 20 is formed on the back side of the guide passage 2 so as to overlap the guide passage 2 and extend in the vertical direction.
For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the dropping chute 20 includes a vertically long rectangular bottom plate 24 having substantially the same shape as the base plate 11 of the guide passage 2 and a front plate 25 in which a side plate 25d is integrally bent on one side. And the other side plate 28 are processed and formed by sheet metal, and the bottom plate 24, the front plate 25 and the other side plate 28 are assembled in a rectangular shape on the back side of the base plate 11 and fixed with fixing screws 19. As a result, the drop chute 20 having a rectangular space passage 20g is formed.
The drop chute 20 is connected to and formed in communication with a branching portion (exit passage 16) with the first outlet 21 via a connecting portion 18 bent like a letter that is connected to the upper end thereof.

At the branch portion, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, etc., a distribution device 37 for distributing and guiding the disk d in the direction of the first outlet 21 or the direction of the dropping chute 20 is provided with an outlet passage. 16 is provided.
The distribution device 37 has a distribution plate 38 that is operated by a solenoid device (not shown), and the distribution plate 38 is a slit-shaped opening 39 formed in the side plate of the first outlet 21 (see FIG. 3). ) To enter and exit the exit passage 16 horizontally.
When the distribution plate 38 protrudes into the outlet passage 16 of the first outlet 21, the distribution plate 38 becomes the rail-shaped bottom of the outlet passage 16 of the first outlet 21, and the first outlet 21 is the discharge port. 14, the disk d passes through the distribution plate 38 and is guided to the first outlet 21.
On the other hand, when the distribution plate 38 moves out of the outlet passage 16, the bottom of the outlet passage 16 of the first outlet 21 opens, and the discharge port 14 communicates with the drop chute 20.
In this way, the distribution plate 38 switches the passage between whether the discharge port 14 is a passage leading to the first outlet 21 side or the passage leading to the drop chute 20 side. It is distributed to the exit 21 or the falling chute 20 and guided.

The dropping chute 20 in which the disk d is introduced and guided and dropped includes two outlets, a second outlet 22 in the embodiment, and a third outlet 23 located below the second outlet 22 in the embodiment. An outlet is provided below.
The number of exits can be set arbitrarily.
The outlets 22 and 23 are connected to connecting chutes 42 and 43, respectively.
Further, the communication chute 43 located below is a communication chute that is further bifurcated.
As a result, the tip of the connecting chute 42 becomes the second paying outlet 32, and the branching third payout outlet 33 and the fourth payout outlet 34 are formed at the tip of the connecting chute 43, and the disc is distributed in three directions. Can be put out.
A distribution device 44 (see FIG. 4) having a distribution plate for switching the passage similar to the distribution device 37 described above is disposed at the second outlet 22 and falls in the drop chute 20. The disk d to be driven is led out from the second outlet 22 and can be guided to the second payout outlet 32 by the connecting chute 42.
Similarly, in the lowermost communication chute 43 connected to the third outlet 23, a similar distribution device 45 (see FIG. 5) is also branched to the third outlet 34 and the fourth outlet 34. 2 and FIG. 3) is arranged so that the disk d introduced from the drop chute 20 through the outlet 23 can be distributed and guided to the third payout outlet 33 and the fourth payout outlet 34.
Each of these distribution devices 37, 44, 45 is controlled and operated in a corresponding manner so that the drop chute 20 passes through the outlets 21, 22, 23 and the discharge outlets 32, 33, 34 designated by the control device.
As a result, the disk d drops on the drop chute 20 and is ejected from the designated outlets 21, 22, and 23.
In addition, an outlet can be added by adding the distribution device further in the middle of the drop chute 20.

By the way, in the case of this configuration, the disk d falls in the drop chute 20 with a high acceleration. The speed of the disc tends to be higher at the lower exit than at the upper end.
In particular, in an escalator device having a high overall height, the falling chute is also high, and the tendency to increase the speed is remarkable.
Therefore, as shown in the schematic diagram (a) of FIG. 9, the speed at which the disk falls at the lower outlet (23s) is fast and the momentum of the fall is strong, so the disk repels at the outlet. Then, it repels in various directions, and becomes turbulent in various directions like the disks shown in d1, d2, and d3.
Therefore, it becomes necessary to install the contact chute (43s) in accordance with the direction in which the disk comes out, and disadvantageous problems such as troublesome assembly occur.
Further, as shown in the schematic diagram (b) of FIG. 9, the disks d1 and d2 collide with the distribution plate (38s) of the distribution device disposed on the drop chute (20s) vigorously, and the distribution plate (38s). ) And a concern that the durability of the sorting apparatus is lowered.

Therefore, in the present invention, as shown in the enlarged structural perspective view of FIG. 6 and the enlarged structural sectional view of FIG. 8, the opposing inner surface of the passage (20 g) formed in the rectangular shape of the drop chute 20 is A plurality of speed control protrusions 40 protruding inward so as to come into contact with the falling disk d are arranged and formed facing each other.
The protrusions 40 project obliquely downward, and are formed in a staggered manner on the inner surface of the drop chute 20 facing each other.
As shown in FIG. 6, these protrusions 40 can be easily provided by directly cutting and forming the front plate 25 and the bottom plate 24 that form the drop chute 20.
When the plurality of protrusions 40 are arranged in a staggered manner and protrude from the inner surface of the drop chute 20 as described above, the protrusions 40 become obstacles to the falling disk d and resist the disk from falling.
The disk d falls in a zigzag while alternately hitting the protrusions 40 arranged in a staggered pattern.
In this way, if the disk d falls from the dropping chute 20 having the protrusion 40 on the inner surface, the acceleration of the disk reaching the lower outlet is large and the falling momentum is strong at the time of the dropping chute without the protrusion 40. The acceleration is not so high, and the momentum is killed.
That is, the disk is as vigorous as before and has not fallen into the lower outlet.

In this way, since the acceleration can be suppressed and the disk d can be dropped to the second outlet 22 and the third outlet 23 below the dropping chute 20, the behavior of the disk is reduced, and the outlets 22 and 23 flutter. And the disk will not be repelled strongly and turbulent in various directions.
If the disc ejection direction is substantially constant, the connecting chutes 42 and 43 connected to the ejection port do not have different orientations as in the prior art, so that the chute connection operation can be performed easily.
In particular, the lower outlet can effectively suppress the disk from falling shockingly, so that the disk can be distributed in a stable state even from an outlet that is substantially below the upper outlet.
Also, since the falling speed of the disk is reduced, it is possible to avoid violently colliding with the sorting plate of the sorting device, improving its durability, and extending the life of the sorting plate and the sorting device itself. It can be maintained well for a long time.

In the above configuration, the operation will be described. The disc d in the hopper 5 is raised to the delivery port 9 by the rotating disc driven by the motor 6 and then ascends the guide passage 2 by the escalator device 10 and is discharged from the upper end. Carried to 14. It is ejected from the discharge port 14 by the ejecting mechanism 15.
In the command state in which the disk d is dispensed from the first outlet 21, the sorting plate 38 of the sorting device 37 projects into the outlet passage 16 of the first outlet 21, and the discharge port 14 is connected to the first outlet 21. The passage is switched to communicate with
Accordingly, the disk d ejected from the discharge port 14 is discharged from the first outlet 21.
Then, it is paid out from a payout port 32 at the tip thereof via a communication chute 17.

On the other hand, when the exit chute 20 is in the command state to be discharged from the outlets 22 and 23, for example, if the outlet is the second outlet 22, first, the distribution plate 38 of the distribution device 37 at the first outlet 21 is Retreating out of the exit passage 16, the falling chute 20 communicates with the discharge port 14, and the disk d ejected from the discharge port 14 can be introduced.
Then, in the dropping chute 20, the sorting device 44 at the second outlet 22 is also operated, and the second outlet 22 is opened by the sorting plate.

In the process in which the disk d falls within the drop chute 20 to the second outlet 22, the disk d hits a plurality of protrusions 40 projecting diagonally below the inner surface of the chute, so that the drop speed of the disk d decreases and the second outlet 22 At the time of reaching the acceleration, the acceleration is reduced.
That is, the disk does not fall down to the exit as vigorously as a conventional drop chute with a plain inner surface (can be suppressed), so that the behavior of the disk is suppressed, and the disk is kept in a stable state with the second outlet. Get out of 22.
When leaving the third outlet, the sorting device 37 at the first outlet 21 is activated, the sorting device 44 at the second outlet 22 is deactivated, and the third outlet 22 The sorting device 45 at the branch portion of the previous passage finally switches the disc from the third payout port 33 or the fourth payout port 34 by switching the sorting plate so that the designated payout port side opens. Can be paid out.

Thus, by introducing the disk d by the drop chute 20 branched from the first outlet 21 and providing the speed control protrusion 40 on the inner surface of the drop chute 20, the disk hits the protrusion and the speed is reduced. Since it falls, the momentum of the fall of the disk when it reaches the outlets 22 and 23 of the drop chute 20 is reduced, so that it does not jump greatly at the outlet and can be discharged and distributed in a stable state.
If outlets and distribution devices are added, it becomes possible to distribute in multiple directions in various directions at the desired exit position and location, and the distribution route can be formed without complication. .

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a disk delivery device provided with a disk distribution device of the present invention as seen from the front. FIG. 2 is a perspective view seen from the back side of the disk delivery device. FIG. 3 is a front view of the disk delivery device corresponding to FIG. FIG. 4 is a rear view of the disk delivery device corresponding to FIG. FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view for showing the existence part of the drop chute of the present invention in the disk delivery device. It is an enlarged structure perspective view of the A section in FIG. FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the structure of the dropping chute. FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion B in FIG. (A, b) of FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining a problem when the inner surface is a drop chute having no protrusion according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Disc delivery device 2 Guide passage 5 Hopper 10 Escalator device 14 Release port 15 Disc ejection mechanism 20 Drop chute 21 First outlet 22 Second outlet 23 Third outlets 37, 44, 45 Distribution device 38 Distribution Plate 17, 42, 43 Contact chute 40 Projection

Claims (2)

A disk delivery means for delivering the disks (d) in the hopper (5) one by one from the delivery outlet; a guide passage (2) extending substantially vertically upward in which the delivered disks are pushed up and transferred in a line; A disc payout having a disc discharge port (14) provided at the upper end of the guide passage and an upper first outlet (21) formed in communication with the discharge port and from which the disc is discharged. In the device
Branched from the upstream side of the first outlet (21) and provided adjacent to the guide passage (2) so that a disk from the discharge port (14) can be introduced and guided to fall. Disc dropping chute (20), outlets (22, 23) for discharging the disc (d) provided below the dropping chute (20), and a disc falling on the inner surface of the dropping chute (20) And a plurality of protrusions (40) for suppressing the drop speed of the disk formed so as to protrude from the disk. The drop chute (20) is formed to extend to a predetermined length in a positional relationship between the guide passage (2) and the front and back, and has a plurality of outlets (22, 23), and the protrusion (40) 2. The disk distribution device of the disk dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the disk chute (20) protrudes obliquely downward from the inner surface of the falling chute (20) and is opposed in a staggered manner.

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