JP2011104179A - Slot machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a slot machine, which prevents "a fraudulent act without loading any tokens" but does not inhibit accurate count of the tokens. <P>SOLUTION: A bent passage part 8 is formed in the middle of a token passage 6, and a limit switch 24 and a photointerrupter 25 are provided on a downstream side edge of the bent passage part 8 so that the bent passage part 8 could prevent a fraudulent tool from reaching the photointerrupter 25 and prevent the fraudulent act on the photointerrupter 25, and also making the fraudulent tool difficult to be pulled out allows the limit switch 24 to detect the use of the fraudulent tool, which prevent "the fraudulent act without loading any tokens". An accelerated token in a straight passage part 7 crashes into a line L and a forehand token is detached away from the line L with an impact by the crash so that the photointerrupter 25 could count the tokens one by one even when the tokens are jammed in the bent passage part 8 to form the line L, thereby allowing the accurate count of the tokens. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a slot machine in which a medal passage for guiding a medal inserted into a medal slot to a predetermined position inside is formed.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a gaming machine that provides entertainment to people, a slot machine that performs a game of aligning symbols printed on a plurality of rotating reels has been used.
In this slot machine, when a predetermined number of medals are inserted into the medal slot and then a start switch is operated, a game is started and a rotating reel on which a plurality of types of symbols are written starts rotating. When the player operates the stop switch, the rotating reel stops. At this time, if the displayed symbols are in a predetermined combination, the player wins a prize and the number of medals corresponding to the winning combination is given to the player. It is to be paid out.

In such a slot machine, it is determined whether or not the medal inserted into the medal slot is appropriate, the medal determined to be inappropriate is discharged, and only the appropriate medal is accepted Equipped with a medal selector.
Here, the medal selector is provided with two photoelectric medal passage sensors arranged along the distribution direction of medals in order to count the appropriate number of medals.
In this way, if two photoelectric medal passage sensors are arranged along the distribution direction of medals, it is possible to detect the movement direction of medals, so only the medals that have moved in the forward direction from upstream to downstream are counted. Can be done. In addition, when a medal that has moved in the reverse direction from downstream to upstream is detected, there is a possibility that an illegal act has been performed. Therefore, an abnormal signal notifying the fact can be output to the outside.

  By the way, at the amusement hall where the slot machine is installed, an illegal operation is performed on the photoelectric medal passage sensor of the medal selector provided in the slot machine, as if an appropriate medal passed in the forward direction. By pretending, a fraudulent act of increasing the number of credits illegally, so-called “Kureman Goto” may be performed.

In performing this “Kuremangoto”, a flat plate member cut out according to the shape of the medal passage from the medal insertion port to the photoelectric medal passage sensor, and provided at the tip of the flat plate member and provided on the slot machine side A deception device including two light emitting diodes arranged corresponding to the two photoelectric medal passage sensors provided is used.
Insert the flat plate member of such a fraudulent instrument into the medal slot of the slot machine, let the light emitting diode at the tip reach the installation of the photoelectric medal passage sensor on the slot machine side, and start from the off state in order from the upstream one. If the light is turned on, the photoelectric change sensor produces the same light amount change as when the medal passes from the upstream side to the downstream side, thereby increasing the number of credits. Then, if the checkout button is operated in the state where the number of credits is increased, a medal that cannot be obtained originally can be obtained illegally.

In order to prevent such “cleating goto”, a slot machine has been proposed in which a crank passage bent in a crank shape is provided as a part of a medal passage through which medals circulate (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .)
According to the slot machine provided with such a crank passage, a crank passage that is bent in a crank shape is formed between the medal slot in the medal passage and the medal selector. Even if it is inserted into the medal slot of the machine, the side wall of the crank passage interferes with the plate member of the cheating device, and the light emitting diode provided at the tip of the plate member cannot reach the vicinity of the photoelectric medal passage sensor. Even if the light emitting diode is operated, the number of credits cannot be increased, thereby preventing the “creeping goto”.

JP 2006-43280 A

  In the slot machine provided with the crank passage described above, when a plurality of medals are successively inserted into the medal slot, the medals are decelerated in the crank passage bent in a crank shape, and the medals are congested in the crank passage. They stick to each other. For this reason, it is easy to form an uninterrupted row of medals in front of the photoelectric medal passage sensor, and when the medals pass through the photoelectric medal passage sensor in an unbroken row, the photoelectric medals There is a problem that the passing sensor counts a plurality of medals as one and may hinder accurate counting of medals.

  Therefore, each invention described in each claim has been made in view of the problems of the prior art described above, and the purpose of the invention is to prevent `` Kureman Goto '' It is to provide a slot machine that does not prevent accurate medal counting.

Each invention described in each claim is made to achieve the above-mentioned object. The features of each invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings.
In addition, a code | symbol shows the code | symbol used in embodiment of this invention, and does not limit the technical scope of this invention.

(Claim 1)
(Feature point)
The invention described in claim 1 is characterized by the following points.
That is, the invention according to claim 1 is a slot machine (1) in which a medal passage (6) for guiding a medal inserted into the medal insertion slot (42) to a predetermined position inside is formed, An urging unit (7, 80, 90) that adds more momentum to the medal that is inserted from the insertion port (42) and proceeds downstream in the distribution direction, and distribution of medals from this urging unit (7, 80, 90) The curved passage portion (8) provided on the downstream side in the direction and curved along the radial direction of the medals flowing through the inside, and the medal passage (6) are provided in the curved passage portion (8). When an object is present at a predetermined part set inside the medal passage (6) at the downstream end in the distribution direction of the object, an object detection sensor that detects the presence of the object and sends a predetermined signal ( 24) and a medal passes through a predetermined part set in the medal passage (6), By detecting the passage of the medal it is characterized in that the medal passing sensor (25) for transmitting a predetermined signal is provided.

In the invention according to the first aspect, any of the following A, B, and C can be adopted as the urging portion.
A: A linear passage portion that linearly extends downward in the vertical direction from the medal insertion slot and that is formed so that the medal can fall substantially freely inside, and applies momentum to the medal that travels inside using gravity.
B: A pair of spheres projecting and retracting with respect to the inner side surface of the medal passage are arranged opposite to each other in the vicinity of the medal insertion slot, and an elastic body is provided to urge each of these spheres in a direction protruding from the inner side surface. When the medal is pushed against the elastic force of the elastic body, the elastic force is stored in the elastic body. Immediately after passing the medal, the sphere plays the medal with the elastic force stored in the elastic body. An elastic accelerator that adds momentum.
C: A rotating roller type in which a roller that rotates at high speed by a motor is provided on each of inner surfaces facing each other in the medal path, and when the medal passes between these rollers, the rotating roller gives further force to the medal Accelerator.

(Claim 2)
(Feature point)
The invention described in claim 2 is the invention described in claim 1, and has the following characteristic points.
That is, the invention according to claim 2 extends linearly downward from the medal insertion slot (42) between the medal insertion slot (42) and the curved passage portion (8) substantially vertically. A straight passage portion (7) formed so that a medal can fall almost freely inside is provided, and the straight passage portion (7) uses the gravity to apply force to the medal moving inside. It is characterized by becoming.

(Claim 3)
(Feature point)
The invention described in claim 3 is the invention described in claim 2 described above, and has the following characteristics.
That is, the invention according to claim 3 is an engagement position (in the vicinity of the medal slot (42) in the linear passage portion (7)) that can engage with a medal circulating in the linear passage portion (7). α) and a deviation position (β) that deviates from a range that can be engaged with a medal that circulates in the straight passage portion (7), and is moved toward the engagement position. A flap (22) is provided.

(Effect of Claim 1)
The present invention configured as described above has the following effects.
That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the curved passage portion that is curved along the radial direction of the medal is formed in the medal passage, and the end of the object at the downstream side of the medal in the curved passage portion is formed. Since the object detection sensor for detecting the presence and the medal passage sensor for detecting the passage of the medal are provided, if the flat plate member of the deception instrument is inserted into the medal slot of the slot machine, the side wall of the curved passage portion is the deception instrument. It is difficult to cause the leading end of the flat plate member to reach the medal passage sensor.
Here, even if the tip of the flat plate member of the cheating instrument can reach the medal passage sensor, the middle part of the flat plate member rubs against the side wall of the curved passage portion when the flat plate member of the cheating instrument is pulled out. Since a large frictional resistance is generated and the flat plate member cannot be quickly pulled out from the medal slot, the object detection sensor that detects the presence of the object can detect the use of the deception device. Can be effectively prevented.
In addition, even when a plurality of medals are congested by the curved passage portion formed in the medal passage, and an uninterrupted row of medals is formed inside the curved passage portion, it is inserted into the medal slot. Since there is a support section that gives momentum to the medals, if medals are inserted one by one into the medal insertion slot, the medals inserted from the medal insertion slot are encouraged by the support section and jammed in the curved passage section. Collide with a row of medals.
Then, since the medal used in the slot machine can be regarded as a rigid body, when one medal collides with the medal row, the first medal is played by the impact of this collision, and it is separated from the medal row. It moves toward the medal passage sensor alone.
As a result, the medal passing sensor can reliably count the medals one by one, so that even if the “cleating goto” is prevented, accurate medal counting can be performed. Is achieved.
Here, in a general slot machine, a medal guide groove for guiding a plurality of medals stacked on each other is connected to the medal slot while extending in the thickness direction of the medal to be inserted. When multiple medals are placed on top of each other and the last medal is lightly pressed toward the medal slot, the medals are quickly inserted one by one into the medal slot and the medal guide groove is used. First, a plurality of medals reach the support section in a state of being separated from each other, and thereby accurate medal counting is performed.

(Effect of claim 2)
According to the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, the following effect is obtained.
That is, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the straight passage portion linearly extending substantially downward in the vertical direction is provided between the medal slot and the curved passage portion, and the straight passage portion is used as a biasing portion, and gravity is used. As a result, momentum has been applied to the medals traveling inside, so it is possible to add momentum to the medals without adding a motor such as a motor. This greatly simplifies the structure and mechanism of the urging unit. In addition, driving force such as electric power can be eliminated at the time of operation. Therefore, even if the urging portion is provided, the initial cost and running cost of the slot machine are not increased at all.

(Effect of claim 3)
According to invention of Claim 3, in addition to the effect of invention of Claim 2 mentioned above, there exist the following effects.
That is, when a plurality of medals have reached the urging unit due to a violent act such as pushing the plurality of medals into the medal insertion slot with the medals in intimate contact with each other, A plurality of closely attached medals collide with a medal row congested in the curved passage portion, and the same number as that of the collided number, that is, two or more medals are repelled from the medal row and are in close contact with each other. Since more than one medal passes through the medal passage sensor, this makes it impossible to accurately count medals.
On the other hand, according to the invention described in claim 3, between the two positions of the engagement position that can be engaged with the medal that circulates in the linear passage portion and the deviation position that does not engage the medal that circulates in the linear passage portion. A flap that is movable and is urged toward the engagement position is provided, so that even if a plurality of medals are continuously inserted into the medal insertion slot in a row with no gap, Each time it passes, when the flap reciprocates between the engagement position and the departure position and returns to the engagement position by the urging force, the next medal is hit, and the medal is temporarily stopped by hitting, Thereby, a space | interval comes to be formed between several medal | tokens used as the row | line | column without a clearance gap.
Therefore, two medals arranged in a line without gaps will advance through the medal passage by a violent act such as putting two medals close together from above the medal slot and pushing them into the medal slot. However, the flap separates the two medals and prevents the medals from proceeding to the end in the straight passage portion in close contact with each other, so that accurate medal counting can be performed.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the slot machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the principal part of the said embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the blocker which concerns on the said embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the different state of the blocker which concerns on the said embodiment. It is a figure equivalent to FIG. 2 which shows the modification of this invention. It is a figure equivalent to FIG. 2 which shows another modification of this invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment which is a mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(Overview of slot machine 1)
The slot machine 1 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of rotating reels 11 on which a plurality of types of symbols are written on the peripheral surface, and rotates so that the symbols written on the rotating reels 11 are in a predetermined combination. A game for stopping the rotating reel 11 is performed.
As shown in FIG. 1, such a slot machine 1 is formed in a box shape that accommodates various devices of the slot machine 1 and includes a casing 2 having a rectangular front shape. The housing 2 is provided with a front door 3 that closes the front face so as to be rotatable.

A central portion in the vertical direction of the front door 3 is an operation unit 4 for performing a game operation of the slot machine 1. The operation unit 4 is provided with the following operation means.
That is, a key hole 41 into which a key for locking the front door 3 is inserted and a medal slot 42 into which a medal as a game medium is inserted are provided in the vicinity of the right end in FIG.
In the central portion of the operation unit 4 in FIG. 1, there are provided a plurality of stop switches 43 that are respectively operated when stopping the rotation of the plurality of rotary reels 11.

Among these stop switches 43, two bets are placed on the diagonally upper left of the leftmost stop switch 43 in FIG. 1 in order to set the number of medals bet on the game among the medals inserted into the medal slot 42. A switch 44 is provided. Among these, the one arranged on the right side is a max bet switch 44A for betting the maximum number of medals, and the one arranged on the left side is a single bet switch 44B for betting one medal.
Further, a start switch 45 that is operated when starting the rotation of the rotary reel 11 is provided on the left side of the stop switch 43 in FIG.
On the left side of the start switch 45 in FIG. 1, a settlement switch 46 is provided for paying back stored medals.

  A lower panel 31 for clearly displaying a mark composed of at least one of characters and drawings, for example, the model name of the slot machine 1, is provided below the operation unit 4. On the back side of the lower panel 31, a backlight device (not shown) that illuminates the lower panel 31 from the rear is provided. Further, below the lower panel 31, a medal tray 32 is provided for storing the paid-out medals.

Above the operation unit 4, a symbol display window 61 formed in an elongated rectangular shape in the horizontal direction is provided. The symbol display window 61 is a window for showing a player a symbol (not shown) of the rotary reel 11 housed in the housing 2.
Above the symbol display window 61, a liquid crystal display device 60 is provided as an image display device capable of displaying precise moving images.

Around the liquid crystal display device 60, a decorative lamp portion 62 arranged in an inverted U shape is provided so as to surround the left, upper, and right sides of the liquid crystal display device 60 in FIG.
On the other hand, a speaker 63 for outputting various sounds is provided in the vicinity of the lower edge of the front door 3 and on the front portion of the front door 3 rising from the bottom surface of the medal tray 32.

Here, the decorative lamp unit 62 and the speaker 63 perform a game such as a notification effect that is performed when a winning flag corresponding to a predetermined winning combination is established in a winning lottery performed inside the slot machine 1 for each game. It is an effect means for performing an effect operation for effect.
When the winning flag is established, for example, when the bonus flag is established together with the liquid crystal display device 60, the effect means performs an informing effect informing that effect. Note that when the effect means performs the notification effect, the liquid crystal display device 60 also performs the notification effect display as necessary.

  Specifically, when the winning flag is established, a video for notifying that is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display device 60, turning on or blinking the decorative lamp unit 62, generating a winning sound from the speaker 63, etc. One of them is operated alone, or two or more or all of them are operated simultaneously, thereby performing a notification effect informing the player of the establishment of the winning flag.

Inside the housing 2, on the back side of the symbol display window 61, there is provided a reel unit 10 having a motor (not shown) that rotatably supports each of the three rotating reels 11 and that rotates each rotating reel 11. It has been.
In addition, a medal selector 20 according to the present invention is provided below the medal insertion slot 42 in the housing 2 in order to detect medals inserted into the medal insertion slot 42.
On the back side of the lower panel 31, there is provided a hopper unit 5 that stores medals that have passed through the vicinity of the medal selector 20, and that pays out the stored medals from the payout port 33 as necessary.

  In the slot machine 1 as described above, after the player bets medals, the start switch 45 is operated to start the rotation of the plurality of rotary reels 11. Thereafter, the player presses the plurality of stop switches 43. Operated to form a prize when a plurality of rotating reels 11 can be stopped at a position indicating a predetermined symbol combination, and the number of medals corresponding to the winning combination is paid out to the player Has been.

(Medal passage 6)
On the back side of the front door 3 of the slot machine 1, the medal inserted into the medal slot 42 is moved to a predetermined position in the slot machine 1, specifically, as shown in FIG. A medal passage 6 that leads to 20 medal passage sensors 21 described later is formed.

  The medal passage 6 linearly extends downward from the medal insertion port 42 in a substantially vertical direction, and is formed so that the medal can drop substantially freely. Also provided is a curved passage portion 8 provided on the downstream side in the circulation direction of the medals and curved along the radial direction of the medals circulating inside.

The straight passage portion 7 is formed inside a flat cylindrical member 7A provided between the medal slot 42 and the curved passage portion 8.
Such a straight path portion 7 serves as an urging portion that applies momentum to the medal that is inserted from the medal insertion port 42 and proceeds to the downstream side in the circulation direction in the medal passage 6. That is, the straight passage portion 7 allows the medal to drop almost freely, and uses the gravity to give the medal momentum.

(Flap 22)
In the vicinity of the medal slot 42 in the straight passage portion 7, a midway portion is pivotally supported by a swing shaft 22 A provided outside the straight passage portion 7, and a tip portion 22 B extends toward the straight passage portion 7. A flap 22 is provided so as to be swingable.
The flap 22 is between two positions: an engagement position α that can be engaged with a medal that circulates in the straight passage portion 7, and a deviation position β that deviates from a range that can be engaged with a medal that circulates in the straight passage portion 7. The tip portion 22B is movable.
Here, a helical spring 23 is wound around the swing shaft 22A that pivotally supports the flap 22, and the helical spring 23 always biases the tip end portion 22B of the flap 22 toward the engagement position α. It has become so.

Such a flap 22 is configured such that every time one medal passes in the vicinity, the tip end portion 22B reciprocates between the engagement position α and the deviation position β.
That is, the front end portion 22B of the flap 22 is pushed by the approaching medal and moved from the engagement position α to the departure position β, and after passing the medal, the biasing force of the helical spring 23 causes the engagement from the departure position β. It is formed so as to return to the alignment position α.
When the next medal arrives just before the front end portion 22B when the front end portion 22B of the flap 22 returns to the engagement position α, the next medal is hit and temporarily stopped. An interval is formed between the medals.
Even if a plurality of medals are inserted into the medal insertion slot 42 in a state where there is no gap between the flaps 22 as described above, every time one medal passes in the vicinity, the front end portion 22B is engaged. A space is formed between a plurality of medals arranged in a row with no gap by reciprocating between α and the deviation position β.

(Curved passage 8)
The curved passage portion 8 is a passage that curves in a “<” shape inside a casing 20 </ b> A formed as a box as a casing of the medal selector 20.
The curved passage portion 8 is provided with an inlet-side inclined portion 8A, an intermediate inclined portion 8B, and an outlet-side inclined portion 8C that extend substantially linearly and have different gradients.
Among these, the entrance-side inclined portion 8A forms an upstream end in the medal distribution direction. The gradient of the inlet side inclined portion 8A is steeper than that of the intermediate inclined portion 8B, but is gentler than that of the outlet side inclined portion 8C.
At the upstream end of the inlet side inclined portion 8A, in other words, at the connection portion with the straight passage portion 7, the medal from the straight passage portion 7 is appropriately adjusted so as to smoothly pass through the connection portion. A curved radius is formed.

The intermediate inclined portion 8B forms an intermediate portion of the curved passage portion 8 in the medal distribution direction. The gradient of the intermediate inclined portion 8B is steeper than both the gradient of the inlet-side inclined portion 8A and the gradient of the outlet-side inclined portion 8C.
The upstream end of such an intermediate inclined portion 8B, in other words, the connecting portion with the inlet-side inclined portion 8A is moderate so that the medal from the inlet-side inclined portion 8A passes smoothly through the connecting portion. A curved radius is formed.

The exit-side inclined portion 8C forms an end portion on the downstream side in the medal distribution direction. The gradient of the outlet side inclined portion 8C is gentler than both the gradient of the inlet side inclined portion 8A and the gradient of the intermediate inclined portion 8B.
At the upstream end of the outlet side inclined portion 8C, in other words, in the connection portion with the intermediate inclined portion 8B, the medal from the intermediate inclined portion 8B is appropriately adjusted so as to smoothly pass through the connection portion. A curved radius is formed.

(Medal selector 20)
As shown in FIG. 2, the medal selector 20 detects the presence of an object and sends a predetermined signal when an object is present in a predetermined portion set in the medal passage 6 as shown in FIG. The limit switch 24, which is a detection sensor, the blocker device 70 that prevents the distribution of medals when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and the passage of the medal is detected when the medal passes through a predetermined part set inside the medal passage 6. And a pair of photo interrupters 25 which are medal passage sensors that send out predetermined signals.

Of these, the limit switch 24 is a lever type that includes a lever 24A that is swingably provided, and the internal contact opens and closes when the tip of the lever 24A is pressed.
In the limit switch 24, the tip end portion of the lever 24A is disposed in the vicinity of the upstream end portion of the outlet side inclined portion 8C.
The lever 24A has a tip portion that can move from one of the contact position and the deviation position set inside and outside the outlet-side inclined portion 8C to the other. The lever 24A is always urged toward the contact position inside the outlet-side inclined portion 8C by an elastic body (not shown).
Then, when the tip of the lever 24A is pressed by the medal that has entered the outlet side inclined portion 8C, it moves from the contact position to the departure position, and when this medal passes, it returns from the departure position to the contact position. ing.
In the medal passage 6, the predetermined portion where the limit switch 24 should detect the presence of an object is set at a position where the tip of the lever 24A that has reached the contact position is arranged.

Each of the photo interrupters 25 includes a light projecting element and a light receiving element, and the light irradiated from the light projecting element hits and is reflected by the detection target object, and the reflected light is received by the light receiving element. This is a reflected light type photoelectric sensor to be detected.
The pair of photo interrupters 25 are arranged along the circulation direction of medals in the vicinity of the downstream end of the exit-side inclined portion 8C.
The predetermined portion where the passage of the medal is detected inside the medal passage 6 is a position where the pair of photo interrupters 25 are arranged. Further, by arranging a pair of photo interrupters 25 along a distribution direction of medals at a predetermined part where the passage of medals is detected, not only the distribution of medals but also the distribution direction of medals, that is, the medals are forward direction. It is also possible to detect whether the product has been distributed in the reverse direction or in the reverse direction.

(Blocker device 70)
The blocker device 70 prevents the distribution of medals by dropping the medals passing through the outlet side inclined portion 8C downward when a predetermined condition is satisfied.
That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the outlet-side inclined portion 8C is formed between the guide rail 26 extending along the medal circulation direction and the side wall 27 that divides the internal space of the casing 20A into two. It has become.

As shown in FIG. 3, the guide rail 26 has a substantially L-shaped cross section, and one side of the L-shape extending in the substantially horizontal direction is a bottom portion 26A for receiving a medal load. The side is a guide portion 26B that guides the right side of the medal.
The side wall 27 guides the left surface of the medal in the figure.

  Here, the middle portion of the guide portion 26B is bent, and the upper end side is inclined to the right side in the drawing. Thereby, an inclined portion 26C inclined to the right side in the figure is formed at the upper end side portion of the guide portion 26B. By this inclined portion 26C, the medal passing through the outlet side inclined portion 8C can be inclined as a whole, with the upper side escaping to the right side in the figure.

Further, the side wall 27 is bent at a portion facing the bent portion of the guide portion 26B, and a lower portion thereof is inclined to the left side in the drawing. As a result, a lower portion is opened from a position facing the bent portion of the guide portion 26B on the side wall 27, and this opening serves as a drop opening 27A for dropping the medal downward.
In such a guide rail 26 and the side wall 27, as long as the medals maintain a substantially vertical posture, the medals can move over the entire length of the exit-side inclined portion 8C.
On the other hand, the guide rail 26 and the side wall 27 are configured to fall downward from the drop opening 27A when a medal passing through the outlet side inclined portion 8C is inclined.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the blocker device 70 inclines the guide lever 71 formed at the tip of the guide portion 71A for guiding the upper part of the medal facing side in the drawing and the medal passing through the outlet side inclined portion 8C. A posture change claw 72A for causing the passage prevention lever 72 to be formed at the tip, and a solenoid 73 for attracting the passage prevention lever 72 with a magnetic force.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the guide lever 71 is swingably supported by a support shaft 71 </ b> B provided on the casing 20 </ b> A side of the medal selector 20. Then, the guide portion 71A swings the guide lever 71 to come into contact with the upper part of the medal in a substantially vertical posture to support the medal, and to move the medal to the right side in FIG. 4 away from the upper part of the medal. It is possible to move between the separated positions δ.
A helical spring 74 is wound around the support shaft 71B that pivotally supports the guide lever 71, and the helical spring 74 always biases the guide portion 71A of the guide lever 71 toward the guide position γ. It has become.

The passage blocking lever 72 is formed of a magnetic material that can be attracted by the solenoid 73, and is supported so as to be swingable by a support shaft 72B provided on the yoke 73A of the solenoid 73, as shown in FIGS. It is what has been.
Then, the posture changing claw 72A has a deviation position ε that deviates outside the range in which the medal passes inside the exit-side inclined portion 8C, as shown in FIG. It is possible to move between the block position ζ that enters the inside of the exit-side inclined portion 8C and prevents passage of medals.
A tension spring 75 is bridged between the rear end of the passage blocking lever 72 and the yoke 73A of the solenoid 73.
As shown in FIG. 4, the passage blocking lever 72 is always urged toward the block position ζ by the tension spring 75, and the guide lever 71 is always moved away from the elastic force of the helical spring 74. The pressure is applied toward δ.

When the slot machine 1 is in a normal gaming state, in other words, when a predetermined condition is not satisfied, the solenoid 73 continues to energize the electromagnetic coil and attracts the passage blocking lever 72 with the magnetic force generated by the energization. It will continue.
More specifically, when the electromagnetic coil is energized, the solenoid 73 moves the passage blocking lever 72 from the block position ζ to the departure position ε against the elastic force (tension) of the tension spring 75, thereby energizing the solenoid 73. By the maintenance, as shown in FIG. 3, the passage blocking lever 72 is maintained at the deviation position ε.
When the passage blocking lever 72 moves to the deviation position ε, the guide lever 71 moves to the guide position γ by the elastic force of the helical spring 74. When the energized state of the electromagnetic coil of the solenoid 73 is maintained, the guide lever 71 is maintained at the guide position γ.
In the medal selector 20 as described above, when the electromagnetic coil of the solenoid 73 is energized and this energized state is maintained, the guide lever 71 is held at the guide position γ, and the guide portion 71A of the guide lever 71 holds the medal substantially vertically. Thus, the medal is allowed to pass from the entrance to the exit of the exit side inclined portion 8C.

When a predetermined condition is established, the solenoid 73 stops energization of the electromagnetic coil and stops the suction of the passage blocking lever 72.
When the energization of the electromagnetic coil of the solenoid 73 is stopped, the passage blocking lever 72 is moved from the deviation position ε to the block position ζ by the elastic force of the tension spring 75 until the energization is resumed as shown in FIG. The state of being arranged at the block position ζ is maintained.
The passage blocking lever 72 moves the guide lever 71 from the guide position γ to the separation position δ against the elastic force of the helical spring 74 with the movement to the block position ζ. Further, the guide lever 71 is maintained in the disposition position δ until energization of the solenoid 73 is resumed.
The medal selector 20 as described above is configured such that when the electromagnetic coil of the solenoid 73 shifts to a state in which the solenoid 73 is not energized, the guide lever 71 is held at the separation position δ and the passage prevention lever 72 is held at the block position ζ. It has become. Then, in the medal selector 20 in which the guide lever 71 is held at the separation position δ and the passage blocking lever 72 is held at the block position ζ, the guide portion 71A of the guide lever 71 is separated from the medal and the medal is omitted. The posture change claw 72A of the passage blocking lever 72 that has not been held in the vertical posture and moved to the block position ζ shifts the medal to the inclined state, and the medal is dropped downward from the drop opening 27A. The medals are prevented from passing through the exit-side inclined portion 8C.

According to this embodiment as described above, the following effects can be obtained.
That is, a limit for detecting the presence of an object at the end of the curved passage 8 that is curved along the radial direction of the medal in the medal passage 6 and at the end of the curved passage 8 on the downstream side of the medal. Since the switch 24 and the pair of photo interrupters 25 for detecting the passage of medals are provided, when the flat member of the cheating instrument is inserted into the medal slot 42 of the slot machine 1, the side wall of the curved passage 8 is deceived. Interfering with the flat plate member of the instrument, it becomes difficult to reach the tip of the flat plate member to the pair of photo interrupters 25.
Here, even if the end of the flat plate member of the deceiving device can reach the pair of photo interrupters 25, when the flat plate member of the deceiving device is pulled out, the middle portion of the flat plate member is Since a large frictional resistance is generated by rubbing against the side wall, and the flat plate member cannot be quickly pulled out from the medal slot 42, it can be determined that the fraudulent device has been used when the state change of the internal contact of the limit switch 24 continues for a predetermined time or more. Therefore, the use of the fraudulent device can be detected by the limit switch 24, and “cleating goto” can be effectively prevented.

In addition, a plurality of medals are congested by the curved passage portion 8 formed in the medal passage 6, thereby forming an unbroken row of medals L in the curved passage portion 8 as shown in FIG. 2. Even if the medals inserted into the medal slot 42, the straight passage portion 7 is provided so that the medal slot 42 is inserted into the medal slot 42 one by one. The medals are urged by the straight path portion 7 and collide with the row L of medals congested in the curved path portion 8.
Then, since the medal used in the slot machine 1 can be regarded as a rigid body, when one medal collides with the medal row L, the first medal is played by the impact of this collision, and the medal row L It moves toward the pair of photointerrupters 25 apart from the camera.
This makes it possible to reliably count medals one by one with the pair of photo interrupters 25. Therefore, even when “cleating goto” is prevented, accurate medal counting can be reliably performed.

  Further, a straight passage portion 7 extending linearly downward in a substantially vertical direction is provided between the medal slot 42 and the curved passage portion 8, and this straight passage portion 7 is used as an urging portion, and the medals proceeding inside using the gravity. As a result, it is possible to add momentum to the medals without adding a motor such as a motor. Therefore, the structure and mechanism of the urging unit can be made extremely simple. In operation, no driving force such as electric power is required. Therefore, even if the urging portion is provided, the initial cost and running cost of the slot machine 1 are not increased at all.

Further, it is possible to move between two positions: an engagement position α that can be engaged with a medal that circulates in the straight path portion 7 and a deviation position β that does not engage with a medal that circulates in the straight path portion 7. In addition, since the flap 22 that is constantly urged toward the engagement position α is provided, the plurality of medals are pushed into the medal insertion slot 42 in a state where the medals are in close contact with each other. Even if a plurality of medals have reached the entrance of the straight path portion 7 in close contact with each other, the flap 22 is moved from the engagement position α when the first medal passes. After moving to the deviation position β, it returns to the engagement position α by the elastic force of the helical spring 23. At this time, the next medal is hit, and the medal is temporarily stopped by hitting. Multiple medals that had no rows So to form a gap therebetween.
Accordingly, two medals arranged in a line without gaps advance through the medal passage 6 by a violent act such as bringing two medals into close contact with each other from above the medal insertion slot 42 and pushing it into the medal insertion slot 42. Even if this happens, the flap 22 separates the two medals and prevents the medals from proceeding in the straight passage portion 7 in close contact with each other. Collision with L is prevented in advance, and as a result, it is also possible to prevent a plurality of medals from moving to a pair of photo interrupters 25, so that accurate counting of the plurality of medals can be performed reliably. it can.

  Further, the curved passage portion 8 is provided with an inlet-side inclined portion 8A, an intermediate inclined portion 8B, and an outlet-side inclined portion 8C that extend substantially linearly and have different slopes. Since the slope of the intermediate inclined portion 8B disposed in the intermediate portion is steeper than the gradient of both the inlet-side inclined portion 8A and the outlet-side inclined portion 8C on both sides, the intermediate portion having the most significant curvature in the curved passage portion 8 Thus, a force that advances in the direction of travel is always applied to the congested medals by gravity, so that medals are prevented from being clogged at an intermediate portion where the curvature is remarkable, and smooth medal feeding can be realized in the curved path portion 8.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, The deformation | transformation in the range which can achieve the objective of this invention, improvement, etc. are included.
That is, in the embodiment, for the sake of easy understanding, the straight passage portion 7 has a length about three times the diameter of the medal, but the straight passage portion has almost the same diameter as the medal. The medals can be of the same length. In short, when the medals are collided with the medal row L, the medals can be accelerated by gravity to such an extent that one medal placed at the head can be separated from the other medals. What is necessary is just to have length.

  In addition, the urging unit is not limited to the linear passage portion 7 that uses gravity to give momentum to the medals traveling inside, but an elastic accelerator that gives momentum to the medals by playing the medals with the elastic force of an elastic body, Or you may employ | adopt the rotation roller type accelerator which rotates a roller at high speed with a motor etc. and energizes a medal with this rotating roller.

As the elastic accelerator, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, a sliding hole 81 formed on the inner surface of the medal passage 6 at a position near the medal slot 42 and a tip with respect to the inner surface of the medal passage 6 The plunger 82 slidably provided in the inside of the sliding hole 81, the sphere 83 rotatably provided at the tip of the plunger 82, and the plunger 82 is urged in the protruding direction. An elastic accelerator 80 including a compression coil spring 84 can be employed.
If such an elastic accelerator 80 is adopted, when the player pushes the medal against the elastic force of the compression coil spring 84, the compression coil spring 84 is compressed and the elastic force is stored, and immediately after the medal passes. Then, the sphere 83 plays the medal with the elastic force stored in the compression coil spring 84, so that the medal can be given more momentum.

  As the rotating roller accelerator, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, in the vicinity of the medal slot 42, a part of the peripheral edge is exposed from each of the mutually facing inner surfaces of the medal path 6, A rotating roller accelerator 90 that includes a roller 91 that is driven by a motor (not shown) and rotates at a high speed and that gives the momentum to the medal with the rotating roller 91 when the medal passes between the pair of rollers 91 can be adopted. .

  Further, the flap is not limited to the swinging flap 55 in the above-described embodiment, but may be a slide-type flap provided so as to be able to project and retract with respect to the linear passage portion. Even if they are in contact with each other, it is possible to engage with each of these medals and separate these medals from each other, thereby enabling accurate counting of medals. The appropriate mechanism and structure can be selected as appropriate in implementation.

1 slot machine 6 medal passage 7 straight passage portion as a biasing portion 8 curved passage portion
22 flaps
24 Limit switch as an object detection sensor
25 Photo interrupter as a medal passage sensor
42 medal slot
80 Elastic accelerator as a biasing part
90 Rotating roller accelerator as a biasing part α Engagement position engageable with medal β Deviation position deviating from range engageable with medal

Claims (3)

A slot machine in which a medal passage for guiding a medal inserted into a medal slot to a predetermined position inside is formed,
In the medal passage,
An energizing section that adds momentum to the medal that is inserted from the medal insertion slot and proceeds downstream in the distribution direction;
A curved passage portion that is provided downstream of the urging portion in the circulation direction of the medal and is curved along the radial direction of the medal that circulates inside.
At the end of the curved passage portion on the downstream side in the circulation direction of medals,
An object detection sensor that detects the presence of the object and sends a predetermined signal when an object is present in a predetermined part set inside the medal passage;
A slot machine, comprising: a medal passage sensor that detects a passage of a medal and sends a predetermined signal when the medal passes through a predetermined portion set in the medal passage. Between the medal insertion slot and the curved passage portion, there is a linear passage portion formed so as to extend linearly downward from the medal insertion port in a substantially vertical direction and to allow the medal to fall almost freely inside. Provided,
The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the linear passage portion is the urging portion that applies momentum to a medal that travels inside using gravity.   In the vicinity of the medal slot in the straight passage portion, the engagement position engageable with the medal flowing in the straight passage portion and the range engageable with the medal flowing in the straight passage portion are deviated. 3. A slot machine according to claim 2, further comprising a flap which is movable between two positions of the deviation positions and is biased toward the engagement position.

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