JP2011200505A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine for providing an interior space of a case with respect to other components or the like to improve commercial value by lowering a position of a token charge port and reducing a space occupied by a passage of tokens charged through the token charge port.SOLUTION: A token progress direction of a slope passage (111) is formed in a downward slope direction toward an end direction from a front of the game machine (1), a collection box (150) for collecting tokens overflowing from a storage device (130) is provided adjacent in the horizontal direction of the storage device (130), proper tokens sorted out by a token selector (16) are charged for the storage device (130) by the token selector (16).

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine capable of lowering the height position of a medal slot.

Conventionally, in this type of gaming machine, specifically, a slot machine, when a medal is inserted from the outside into the gaming machine from the medal slot, the front and back directions of the medal remain unchanged and the front door is maintained. Is moved to the left along the medals and sorted by the medal selector, and then moved to the back of the gaming machine through a guide passage such as a curve chute and inserted into a hopper unit as a storage device (for example, Patent Documents) 1.).
Further, a conventional gaming machine will be described in detail.
14 to 16 are conventional gaming machines, FIG. 14 is an external perspective view of a state in which the front door is opened, and FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram showing an arrangement state of each component when the gaming machine is viewed from the front. FIG. 16 is an external perspective view of the storage device (hopper unit).

  Conventionally, in this type of gaming machine 1, specifically, a slot machine, a medal slot 14 for inserting medals from the outside into the gaming machine and a medal inserted from the medal slot 14 are selected. A medal selector 16 that rolls medals in a standing posture, and a hopper unit 315 as a storage device 330 for storing appropriate medals selected by the medal selector 16. In the conventional gaming machine 1, the player inserts the medal from the medal slot 14 so that the front and back surfaces of the medal face the front-rear direction of the gaming machine. Then, the medal selector 16 rolls leftward from the front of the gaming machine 1 while keeping the front and back directions of the medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 14, and determines whether or not the medal is an appropriate medal in the middle. Judgment is made, counted by sensor, rolling the medal from the left direction to the rear on the storage device 330 side while rolling the medal with the curve chute 380 as a hopper guide path consisting of a gentle curve path, The device 330 (hopper unit 315) is charged. Considering the case where the hopper unit 315 alone has a small storage amount and the medal is full, the recovery box 150 is placed on the right side of the hopper unit 315, and the medals overflowing from the hopper unit 315 are placed inside the recovery box 150. It is formed so that it can be stored. At that time, the overflow chute 361 as the sorting means 360 for sorting whether the medal that exits the medal selector 16 and passes the curve chute 380 into the hopper unit 315 or the collection box 150 is placed in the hopper unit 315. It is formed at the end on the collection box 150 side.

  The sorting means 360 is formed with a storage guide path 363 that rolls from the medal selector 16 and guides the medals rolling through the curve chute 380 toward the hopper unit 315, and the front of the storage guide path 363. On the left side from the side, an inclined side wall 362 that is inclined obliquely and assists the rolling of medals is formed. A discharge guide path 364 that slopes downward toward the right collection box 150 is formed at the right end of the storage guide path 363, and a recovery opening that opens to the right side wall of the hopper unit 315 is formed at the right end of the discharge guide path 364. A box opening 365 is formed. The medals discharged from the collection box opening 365 are formed so as to be inserted into the collection box 150. This is because when the medal discharged from the curve chute 380 from the medal selector 16 is dropped to the storage guide path 363, if the storage device 330 is not full of medals, the storage guide path 363 and the inclined side wall 362 are guided. Then, it is put into the hopper unit 315 as it is. On the other hand, when the storage guide path 363 is full of medals and medals overflow from the upper surface of the hopper unit 315, the medals guided to the storage guide path 363 and the inclined side wall 362 collide with the overflow medals, and the medals Alternatively, the medals knocked out by the collision are guided by the discharge guide path 364, moved to the right side, and inserted into the recovery box 150 through the recovery box opening 365 ahead.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2008-154651 (FIG. 4)

  In conventional gaming machines, the medal slot 14 is usually arranged on the right side of the front door 3 for the convenience of right-handed people to insert medals with their right hand, and similarly for right-handed people to open and close the keys. Since the opening / closing key is arranged on the right side, the left side of the front door 3 is pivotally supported. In such a case, the collection box 150 is arranged on the right side when viewed from the front of the gaming machine 1 in consideration of the convenience of taking out and the like so that the front door 3 does not have to be fully opened. In such a case, if the slope 111 inside the medal selector 16 is set to the left and right, the left side of the medal insertion slot 14 located on the right side of the front door 3 is moved to the left by the straight portion of the slope 111 and the curve chute 380. It must be inclined downward. (The black arrow in FIG. 15) Then, the medal moved to the left direction is then directed toward the collection box 150 located on the right side of the housing 2 using the downward slope of the discharge guide path 364 of the sorting means 360, It is necessary to move it back in the right direction (open arrow in FIG. 15). Since such a moving slope in the left-right direction is required, the required height (height C in FIG. 15) is required for the slope.

On the other hand, in recent years, in game machines such as slot machines, introduction of an automatic insertion machine that automatically inserts medals as a game medium is being studied in the same manner as pachinko machines. At that time, if it is attempted to automatically insert medals from the medal lending machine adjacent to the right side of the gaming machine 1, in order to move a large number of medals from the medal lending machine to the gaming machine in a short time, the inclination angle of the moving passage is set. It must be steep. In order to create such a steeply moving path up to the medal slot, it is necessary to lower the mounting position of the medal slot in the design.
In a conventional gaming machine, the medal inserted through the medal insertion slot 14 described above is positioned at the position of the medal insertion slot 14 due to the height restrictions required on the slope of the slant passage of the medal selector 16, the curve chute 380, and the discharge guide path 364. There was a problem that the design of an efficient automatic feeder could be hindered because it could not be lowered.

  Furthermore, in recent years, a gaming machine such as a slot machine has a tendency to mount a large-screen liquid crystal display device and the like and to mount a large number of parts for production in order to improve the merchantability. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the storage amount of the hopper unit 315, the clearance between the rotary reel 10 and the hopper unit 315, and the design reduction of the medal path from the medal slot 14. That is, design considerations are being made to secure a space on the back side of the front door 3 for a large number of parts for production, and to make the gaming machine more productive. Under such circumstances, a medal inserted from the medal slot 14 of the conventional gaming machine 1 as described above is temporarily leftward by the medal slot 14, the slope 111 of the medal selector 16, and the curve chute 380. After moving, the space occupied by forming a useless passage that moves to the right by moving the slope of the discharge guide path 364 or the like hinders the design of the parts related to the production as described above. Therefore, it is difficult to arrange such parts and the like, and there is a problem that it is impossible to provide a gaming machine with high merchantability.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and the object of the present invention is to lower the position of the medal slot and insert it from the medal slot. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine capable of reducing the space occupied by the passage of medals and providing the internal space of the housing for other parts and the like, and improving the merchantability.

(Claim 1)
The gaming machine (1) according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a medal slot (14) for inserting a medal into the gaming machine (1) from the outside, and a medal inserted from the medal slot (14). A medal selector (16) having an inclined path (111) for rolling the medal in a standing posture in a standing posture, and storing an appropriate medal selected by the medal selector (16). Storage device (130).
Then, the traveling direction of the medals on the slope (111) is formed in a downward slope direction from the front of the gaming machine (1) toward the back.

A collection box (150) for collecting medals overflowing from the storage device (130) is provided adjacent to the lateral direction of the storage device (130).
The proper medals selected by the medal selector (16) are inserted into the storage device (130) from the medal selector (16).
(Claim 2)
A gaming machine (1) according to the invention of claim 2 is provided with a medal slot (14) for inserting a medal into the gaming machine (1) from the outside, and a medal inserted from the medal slot (14). A medal selector (16) having an inclined path (111) for rolling the medal in a standing posture in a standing posture, and storing an appropriate medal selected by the medal selector (16). Storage device (130).

Then, the traveling direction of the medals on the slope (111) is formed in a downward slope direction from the front of the gaming machine (1) toward the back.
A collection box (150) for collecting medals overflowing from the storage device (130) is provided adjacent to the lateral direction of the storage device (130).
And a distribution means for distributing medals from the medal selector (16) to either the storage device (130) or the recovery box (150) in the vicinity between the storage device (130) and the recovery box (150). (160) is provided.
The proper medals selected by the medal selector (16) are input from the medal selector (16) to the sorting means (160).

(Claim 3)
The invention described in claim 3 has the following features in addition to the features of the invention described in claim 1 or claim 2. That is, the gaming machine (1) includes a rectangular box-shaped housing (2) having a front opening that opens to the front, and the front opening of the housing (2) is closed so as to be openable and closable. A front door (3) pivotally supported on the left side from the front of (2).
The medal slot (14) is arranged on the right side when viewed from the front of the gaming machine (1).
The collection box (150) is arranged on the right side from the front of the storage device (130) and on the right side from the front of the housing (2).

(Claim 4)
The invention described in claim 4 is characterized by the following points in addition to the features of the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 3. That is, the medal slot (14) is open upward in such a shape that the medal is inserted in such a direction that the front and back surfaces of the medal face the front direction or the back direction of the gaming machine (1). .
Then, between the medal slot (14) and the medal selector (16), the medal front and back directions are changed to the left and right without changing the advancing direction of the medal while maintaining the standing posture. A medal face direction changing device (170) is provided.

(Claim 5)
The invention described in claim 5 is characterized by the following points in addition to the features of the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 3. That is, the medal insertion slot (14) is formed in such a way that the medal is inserted in such a direction that the front and back surfaces of the medal are directed rightward or leftward when the gaming machine (1) is viewed from the front. It is open toward.
And the medal inserted from the medal slot (14) is formed so as to enter the ramp (111) of the medal selector (16) in the same direction without changing the direction of the front and back surfaces of the medal. It is characterized by.

(Claim 6)
The invention described in claim 6 has the following features in addition to the features of the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 4. That is, the medal surface direction changing device (170) includes a receiving opening (171) for receiving a medal from the medal insertion port (14) from above, and a front surface and a back surface of a medal that has entered from the receiving opening (171). A direction changing passage (172) for changing the direction and a medal discharge port (173) for discharging the medal changed in direction by the direction changing passage (172) to the outside of the apparatus are provided.
The direction changing passage (172) is provided below the receiving opening (171), protrudes toward the vertical central axis of the receiving opening (171), and is opposed to each other with a gap of approximately medal thickness. The guide projection (175) is located below or below the guide projection (175) and has a gap of approximately medal thickness and a drop gap (186) communicating with the medal outlet (173). And a pair of inclined surfaces (176) inclined with the drop gap (186) interposed therebetween.

Then, the longitudinal direction of the drop gap (186) (the medal width direction, specifically, the direction substantially the same as the medal width direction when the medal is inserted) and the longitudinal direction of the receiving opening (171) (medal width) The direction, specifically, the direction substantially the same as the medal width direction in the state where the medal is inserted) is formed so as not to coincide with the direction.
The lower end portion of the medal is formed so as to be able to contact both of the inclined surfaces (176) in a state where the front and back surfaces of the medal are sandwiched between the guide protrusions.
The inclined surface (176) is configured such that when the lower end of the medal comes into contact, when viewed from the front and back sides of the medal, one of the contact portions is inclined downward and the other contact portion is inclined upward. It is formed in this.

(Claim 7)
The invention described in claim 7 has the following features in addition to the features of the invention described in any one of claims 2 to 6. That is, as the sorting means (160), an overflow chute (161) capable of guiding medals overflowing from the storage device (130) to the recovery box (150) is provided on the recovery box (150) side of the storage device (130). Provided.
An appropriate medal selected from the medal selector (16) is directly dropped onto the overflow chute (161).
The overflow chute (161) guides medals from the medal selector (16) into the storage device (130) when a predetermined amount of medals is not stored in the storage device (130). When a predetermined amount of medals are stored in the storage device (130), the medal selector (16) is configured such that the medal from the medal selector (16) collides with the medals in the storage device (130). It is formed to guide medals from the collection box (150).

Since this invention is comprised as mentioned above, there exists an effect as described below.
(Claim 1)
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the traveling direction of the ramp (111) for selecting medals by the medal selector (16) is formed in the downward tilt direction from the front of the gaming machine (1) toward the back. is doing. Then, the medal is moved in the back direction along the slope (111) inclined in the back direction, and the medal is thrown into the storage device (130) ahead. In this way, the advancing direction of the ramp (111) of the medal selector (16) is inclined downward from the front of the gaming machine (1) toward the back, and is formed in the left-right direction from the front of the gaming machine (1). Not. Accordingly, the medal can be inserted directly into the storage device (130) from the medal selector (16) without moving the medal in the left-right direction, and the path through which the medal passes can be shortened. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the slope in the left-right direction necessary for moving to the predetermined position of the storage device (130), it is possible to reduce the height occupied by the slope, the medal slot (14) Can be lowered. In addition, since the medal is directly inserted into the storage device (130) without moving in the left-right direction, a useless passage is unnecessary, so that the space occupied by the passage route can be reduced. As a result, the position of the medal slot (14) can be lowered, which facilitates the introduction of an automatic thrower that requires a steep slope, and the rear side of the front door (3) and the housing (2) It is possible to provide the internal space for a large number of parts and the like for production that can improve the merchantability.

In addition, the generated surplus space can be used as an installation space for other parts such as an increase in hopper capacity and other effect devices without lowering the position of the medal slot (14).
In addition, the ability to lower the position of the medal insertion slot (14) increases the degree of freedom in the layout design of the automatic insertion device for the medal lending machine arranged adjacent to the medal lending machine. The degree of freedom of arrangement (layout) is increased (for example, the bill insertion device is arranged at the top), and security can be improved.
(Claim 2)
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the traveling direction of the ramp (111) for selecting medals by the medal selector (16) is formed in the downward tilt direction from the front of the gaming machine (1) toward the back. is doing. Then, the medal is moved in the back direction along the inclined path (111) inclined in the back direction, and the medal is inserted into the sorting means (160) ahead. The distribution means (160) distributes medals to either the storage device (130) or the collection box (150). In this way, the advancing direction of the ramp (111) of the medal selector (16) is inclined downward from the front of the gaming machine (1) toward the back, and is formed in the left-right direction from the front of the gaming machine (1). Not. This allows the medal selector (16) to directly insert the medal into the sorting means (160) provided in the vicinity between the storage device (130) and the collection box (150) without moving left and right. Thus, the route through which medals pass can be shortened. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the horizontal slope required to move to the position of the sorting means (160) and the collection box (150), the height occupied by the slope can be reduced, and the medal insertion The position of the mouth (14) can be lowered. Moreover, since a useless passage for moving the medal in the left-right direction is not necessary, the space occupied by the passage route can be reduced. As a result, the position of the medal slot (14) can be lowered, which facilitates the introduction of an automatic thrower that requires a steep slope, and the rear side of the front door (3) and the housing (2) It is possible to provide the internal space for a large number of parts and the like for production that can improve the merchantability.

In addition, the generated surplus space can be used as an installation space for other parts such as an increase in hopper capacity and other effect devices without lowering the position of the medal slot (14).
In addition, the ability to lower the position of the medal insertion slot (14) increases the degree of freedom in the layout design of the automatic insertion device for the medal lending machine arranged adjacent to the medal lending machine. The degree of freedom of arrangement (layout) is increased (for example, the bill insertion device is arranged at the top), and security can be improved.
(Claim 3)
According to the invention described in claim 3, in addition to the effects of the invention described in claim 1 or 2, the medal insertion slot (14) is usually provided for the convenience of a right-handed person inserting a medal with his right hand. The left side of the front door (3) is pivotally supported by the right side of the front door (3) and the right / left key for the right-handed person to open and close the key. In such a case, the collection box (150) is arranged on the right side when viewed from the front of the gaming machine (1) so that it can be taken out without opening the front door (3). Has been. In such a case, if the slope (111) of the medal selector (16) is set to the left and right, it must be tilted to the left from the position of the medal slot (14) located on the right side of the front door (3). After that, it is necessary to move the medal moved leftward toward the recovery box (150) located on the right side of the housing (2) by using a slope or the like to return it to the right. Since such a moving slope in the left-right direction is required, the height required for the slope is required. On the other hand, by making the inclined surface (176) of the medal selector (16) downwardly inclined toward the back, the medal as described above is moved to the left and is again directed to the collection box (150). Therefore, it is not necessary to move to the right direction, and the height necessary for such a slope in the left-right direction can be eliminated. Thereby, the distance in the height direction from the medal slot (14) to the collection box (150) can be shortened.

(Claim 4)
According to the invention of claim 4, in addition to the effect of the invention of any one of claims 1 to 3, the front and back surfaces of the medal are connected to the gaming machine (1) from the medal slot (14). Even if a medal is inserted in a direction facing the front or back direction, the medal surface direction conversion device (170) maintains the standing posture of the medal while changing the direction of the medal without changing the traveling direction of the medal. Can be changed in the horizontal direction. As a result, the medal in such a state is smoothly transferred to the ramp (111) where the medal is tilted downward from the front of the gaming machine (1) toward the back and the medal rolls in the standing direction toward the traveling direction. Can do.

(Claim 5)
According to the invention described in claim 5, in addition to the effect of the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 3, the direction of the front and back surfaces of the medal at the medal slot (14) and the medal selector (16 The direction of the front and back sides of the medal on the slope (111) of) is consistent from the beginning, so there is no need to change the direction of the front and back sides of the medal on the way, In the state of the direction, it can be guided to the ramp (111), and further, the position of the medal slot (14) is lowered by the height compared to the one provided with such a direction changing device. It becomes possible.
(Claim 6)
According to the invention described in claim 6, in addition to the effect of the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 4, the medal that has entered the direction changing passage (172) from the receiving opening (171) in a standing state. Falls downward while the front and back surfaces are supported by the guide protrusion (175). Then, a part (at least the upper side) of the front and back surfaces of the medal is supported by the guide convex portion (175), and two locations near the lower end of the medal abut against the corresponding inclined surfaces (176). At this time, the inclined surface (176) is from the front and back sides of the medal (more precisely, one side of the front and back sides of the medal in a state before the medal that entered the receiving opening (171) starts to fall downward). The one abutting portion is formed so as to be inclined downward while the other abutting portion is inclined upward, so that when the medal further falls, one abutting portion of the medal is aligned with the downward inclination. The other abutting portion of the medal tends to descend along the descending direction of the surface that is ascending to the descending inclination. Therefore, the medal is in the vicinity of the left and right lower ends with the axis of symmetry when the diameter of the medal in the falling direction is the axis of symmetry while the front and back surfaces are supported by the guide protrusion (175). Partly moves along the downward inclined direction (same rotational direction) of the corresponding inclined surface (176), thereby rotating laterally. When the medal rotates to the medal discharge port (173), it is discharged from the medal discharge port (173) to the outside of the medal surface direction changing device (170).

For example, the front and back surfaces of medals entering from the receiving opening (171) face in the front-rear direction when viewed from the front of the gaming machine (1), and the front and back surfaces of medals discharged from the medal outlet (173) are gaming machines. When the inclined surface (176) is provided so as to be in the left-right direction when viewed from the front of (1), the medal passes through the medal surface direction changing device (170), thereby changing the angle of the front and back surfaces of the medal. For example, it can be converted by 90 degrees.
When the medal face direction changing device (170) is arranged below the medal slot (14) and between the medal slot (14) and the medal selector (16), the medal slot (14) Even if the direction of the front and back sides of the medal to be inserted is different from the direction of the front and back sides of the medal on the ramp (111) of the medal selector (16), the direction of the medal falls through the direction change passage (172). Converted. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a long transfer path for changing the direction of the medal between the medal slot (14) and the medal selector (16).

(Claim 7)
According to the invention of claim 7, in addition to the effect of the invention of any one of claims 2 to 6, the overflow chute (161) of the distribution means (160) is provided in the storage device (130). When the predetermined amount of medals is not stored, the medal from the medal selector (110) is guided to the storage device (130), and when the predetermined amount of medals is stored in the storage device (130) The medal from the medal selector (110) collides with the medal stored in the storage device (130), thereby guiding the medal to the collection box (150). Thereby, the medal dropped to the overflow chute (161) from the medal selector (110) is guided to the storage device (130) as it is depending on whether or not a predetermined amount of medals are stored in the storage device (130). Or whether to guide to the collection box (150). As a result, the present invention uses the stored medals directly for branching medals, so that a predetermined amount of medals detected by a predetermined sensor in the amount of medals stored in the storage device (130). Compared to the one that changes the moving direction of medals with a movable device in the middle of the passage when stored, it is possible to distribute medals with a simple structure without providing a special sensor or movable device. The initial input cost can be reduced, and since there is no moving part, no failure occurs and the running cost can be reduced.

1 is an external perspective view showing a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an external perspective view showing a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention with a front door opened. It is an embodiment of the present invention, and is a conceptual diagram of arrangement of each component when the gaming machine is viewed from the front. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of the arrangement of components when the gaming machine is viewed from the side, according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is an embodiment of the present invention and is a schematic front view showing the vicinity of a medal slot. It is embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a front view which shows a medal surface direction conversion apparatus. It is embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a side view which shows a medal surface direction conversion apparatus. It is an embodiment of the present invention, (a) an external perspective view of the upper part of the conversion surface of the medal surface direction conversion device as seen from the upper surface side, (b) the upper portion of the conversion device of the medal surface direction conversion device as viewed from the lower surface side. It is an external perspective view. FIG. 6 is a back view of the embodiment of the present invention in a state in which the upper part of the conversion device of the medal surface direction conversion device is attached in the vicinity of the medal slot. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (a) The external appearance perspective view which shows the conversion device lower part of a medal surface direction conversion apparatus from an upper surface side, (b) The external appearance perspective view which shows the conversion device lower part of a medal surface direction conversion device from a lower surface side. FIG. It is embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a top view which shows the conversion apparatus lower part of a medal surface direction conversion apparatus. It is an embodiment of the present invention, and is an external perspective view showing sorting means. It is an embodiment of the present invention, and is a schematic diagram showing a change in the height of a medal slot compared with a conventional gaming machine. FIG. 14 is an external perspective view showing a conventional gaming machine with a front door opened. It is a conventional game machine, Comprising: It is a conceptual diagram of arrangement | positioning of each component at the time of seeing a game machine from the front. It is a conventional game machine, and is an external appearance perspective view which shows a distribution means.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, taking a slot machine as an example of a gaming machine.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment can be roughly divided into a square box-shaped housing 2 having a front opening on the front side, and a front opening of the housing 2 can be opened and closed. It consists of a front door 3 that closes the door. The front door 3 is divided into an upper door 4 that covers the upper opening of the housing 2 so that it can be opened and closed, and a lower door 5 that covers the lower opening of the housing 2 so that it can be opened and closed. The upper door 4 and the lower door 5 are pivotally supported by a hinge that is rotatable at the end of the left housing 2 from the front of the housing 2.

In the present specification, “front”, “front”, and “front” refer to the case where the player faces the game machine 1 in front of the front side of the game machine 1. This means the direction from the back to the front when viewed from the player. Similarly, “back”, “backward”, and “backward” mean that the player sees the gaming machine 1 facing the front side of the gaming machine 1 from this player. It means the direction from the front to the back. Similarly, the left and right directions such as “left direction” and “right direction” also mean directions when viewed from the person facing the front of the gaming machine 1.
In this specification, “medal width” means a circular diameter forming the front and back surfaces of a disk-shaped medal, and “medal thickness” means a disk of a disk-shaped medal. Means the plate thickness (thickness). Therefore, the medal width direction of the medal insertion port 14, the receiving opening 171 and the medal discharging port 173, which will be described later, means the longitudinal direction thereof, and the medal inserting port 14, the receiving opening 171 and the medal discharging port 173, etc. The medal thickness direction means their short direction.

(Case 2)
As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 2 is a box that opens to the front surface (the front surface facing the player). A reel unit 200 including three rotating reels 10 and a main board unit 20 are housed inside the upper opening of the housing 2, and a power supply unit and a hopper unit 15 are housed inside the lower opening. Is installed.
Here, the reel unit 200 is detachably formed on the housing 2, and the main board unit 20 is fixed to the frame of the reel unit 200. The main board unit 20 is a main board on which various electronic components such as a CPU and a ROM are mounted and is housed in a board case, and functions as a main control means for controlling the operation of the gaming machine 1. The hopper unit 15 is a storage device 130 capable of storing medals and paying out medals when winning. The hopper unit 15 is formed so that appropriate medals selected by a medal selector 16 described later are inserted.

(Front door 3)
Among the front doors 3, the upper door 4 is a plate-like door that is rotatably supported by a side plate of the housing 2 via a hinge. As shown in FIG. There is a symbol display window 8A that can be seen from the front side, and a decorative frame 7 for effect display is provided above the symbol display window 8A. The detailed configuration of the upper door 4 will be described later.
When the upper door 4 is closed, it is automatically locked by a latch lock provided on the opposite side of the hinge of the housing 2, and the upper opening of the housing 2 is closed. In addition, the upper door 4 is unlocked by lowering the operation part provided on the lower side (inner side) of the lower door 5 with the lower door 5 released.

Of the front doors 3, the lower door 5 is a door that is wider and thicker than the upper door 4 that is pivotally supported on the side plate of the housing 2 via a hinge. As shown in FIG. The upper part is a counter-like operation unit for operating the gaming machine 1. Further, at the lower part of the lower door 5, a payout tray 13 that can store medals paid out from the hopper unit 15 through the payout opening 17 is formed. A lower speaker 110 is provided.
In the operation unit, a medal slot 14 for inserting a gaming medal is arranged on the right side from the front of the gaming machine 1. Further, a start switch 11 for starting the rotation of the rotary reel 10 is arranged on the left side from the front of the gaming machine 1, and a stop switch 12 for stopping the rotation of the rotary reel 10 is provided in the operation unit. Three pieces corresponding to each rotary reel 10 are arranged substantially in front of the gaming machine 1. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a medal selector 16 is provided on the back side of the lower door 5 for determining whether a medal is correct or not while guiding the medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 14. The medals that have passed through the medal selector 16 are transferred to the hopper unit 15 in principle, and the medals canceled by the medal selector 16 are discharged to the payout tray 13 shown in FIG. When the medals stored in the hopper unit 15 are almost full, the appropriate medals that have passed through the medal selector 16 are placed on the right side of the hopper unit 15 by the sorting means 160 provided in the hopper unit 15, and 2 is formed so as to be put into a collection box 150 placed on the right side from the front.

When the lower door 5 is closed, the lower door 5 is automatically locked by a latch lock, and the lower opening portion of the housing 2 is closed. Further, the lower door 5 is unlocked by inserting a predetermined key into the keyhole and turning, and releasing the lower door 5 allows the upper door 4 to be unlocked.
The gaming machine 1 may stop the rotating reel 10 so that the lottery result of the winning determination performed by the main board wins a predetermined winning combination, and the winning symbol becomes a winning mode by operating the stop switch 12. If it is possible to win a prize, a medal is paid out from the hopper unit 15 or an advantageous game such as a bonus game is started.

(Medal slot 14)
As shown in FIG. 1, the medal slot 14 is formed in a medal slot 30 disposed on the right side from the front of the front door 3. The medal insertion part 30 is composed of a groove extending from the front side to the back side, and a medal setting part 31 having a U-shaped cross section perpendicular to the direction from the front side to the back side. And a plate-like back plate 32 slightly away from the thickness of the medal from the back end face toward the back side. The medal slot 14 is a slit-shaped hole slightly larger than the thickness of the medal between the front surface of the back plate 32 and the back end of the medal holder 31. By forming in this way, a right-handed person mainly holds a medal with his right hand, and puts a plurality of medals on the medal placing part 31 with the front and back surfaces thereof facing up and down, By pushing little by little from the front side, the medals are formed to be convenient for dropping downward from the medal slot 14 and entering the gaming machine 1 one after another. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the upper part of the slit between the back plate 32 and the medal holder 31 is formed so as to communicate with the lateral groove 33 continuous in the right direction. This is formed so that medals sent from an automatic insertion machine such as a medal lending machine on the right side can roll on the lateral groove 33 and fall to the medal insertion slot 14.

Specifically, a medal lending machine that can lend medals to be used in the gaming machine 1 is provided on the right side when the gaming machine 1 is viewed from the front, and the medal lending machine includes the gaming machine 1 When an automatic insertion mechanism for automatically inserting medals into the medal insertion slot 14 is provided, the discharge slot for discharging the medal from the automatic insertion mechanism and the lateral groove 33 are substantially communicated (not necessarily the lateral groove 33). (There may be a gap that allows medals to jump over), and the medals discharged from the automatic insertion mechanism of the medal lending machine pass through the lateral groove 33 and the medals It is configured to be inserted into the insertion port 14.
The medal slot 14 is shaped so that the medal is inserted in such a direction that the front and back surfaces of the medal face the front direction or the back direction of the gaming machine 1, in other words, the medal width direction is the gaming machine It has a slit-like shape that opens in a direction facing the left-right direction. Then, the medals inserted with the front and back directions of the medals directed toward the front or back direction of the gaming machine 1 are guided to the receiving opening 171 of the lower medal surface direction changing device 170 while maintaining the state of the direction. Is formed.

(Medal face direction changing device 170)
The medal face direction changing device 170 is a substantially cylindrical member that opens up and down, and is provided on the front door 3. As shown in FIGS. The medal selector 16 is located between the medal selector 16 and the medal so as to change the direction of the front and back surfaces of the medal to the left and right without changing the moving direction of the medal while maintaining the standing posture.
As shown in FIG. 6, the medal surface direction changing device 170 is positioned below the medal slot 14 and receives a medal inserted from the medal slot 14 from above. A direction changing passage 172 for changing the direction of the front and back surfaces of the medal that has entered, and a medal discharge port 173 for discharging the medal changed in direction by the direction changing passage 172 to the outside of the medal surface direction changing device 170. ing.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, the medal face direction changing device 170 is formed so as to be separable up and down so as to be able to cope with a medal clogging. The medal surface direction conversion device 170 includes a conversion device upper portion 179 that has an receiving opening 171 and is located at the upper portion, and a conversion device lower portion 180 that is located below the conversion device upper portion 179 and has a medal discharge port 173. Is formed.
In the medal face direction conversion device 170, a substantially cylindrical conversion device lower portion 180 having the same outer diameter as the conversion device upper portion 179 is fixed below a conversion device upper portion 179 having a substantially cylindrical appearance shape. Yes. The lower surface of the conversion device upper portion 179 and the upper surface of the conversion device lower portion 180 are formed so as to be positioned by positioning means 181 to be described later, and are formed so as to apply an adhesive material to both surfaces and join both surfaces.

Here, as shown in FIG. 8A, when the conversion device upper portion 179 is viewed from the upper surface side, a receiving opening 171 is opened, and the portion other than the receiving opening 171 is a flat surface. As shown in FIG. 8B, when the conversion device upper portion 179 is viewed from the lower surface side, an upper guide convex portion 187 and a positioning convex portion 182 described later are formed in a cylindrical internal space.
Further, as shown in FIG. 10A, when the conversion device lower portion 180 is viewed from the upper surface side, a lower guide convex portion 188, an inclined portion 174, and a positioning concave portion 183, which will be described later, are formed in a cylindrical internal space. . Further, as shown in FIG. 10B, when the conversion device lower portion 180 is viewed from the lower surface side, the medal discharge port 173 is opened, and the portions other than the medal discharge port 173 are flat.

The receiving opening 171 is located on the upper surface of the conversion device upper part 179 and is arranged in the same direction as the medal slot 14, so that the width direction of the receiving medal is the left-right direction of the gaming machine 1 Is formed. The receiving opening 171 is formed so that it can be received as it is without changing the direction of the front and back surfaces of the medal inserted from the medal insertion slot.
The direction changing passage 172 is formed to communicate with both the upper part 179 and the lower part 180 of the converter. The direction changing passage 172 is provided below the receiving opening 171 and has a pair of guide convex portions 175 that protrude toward the vertical central axis of the receiving opening 171 and face each other with a gap of approximately medal thickness. The guide convex portion 175 is formed in a fan shape having a thickness of 90 degrees in the central angle obtained by dividing the cylindrical shape into four equal parts at intervals of 90 degrees on the central axis. The guide protrusions 175 are formed on both the conversion device upper portion 179 and the conversion device lower portion 180, and the upper guide protrusion 187 provided on the conversion device upper portion 179 and the lower guide protrusion provided on the conversion device lower portion 180. Part 188. The guide protrusions 175 (upper guide protrusions 187 and lower guide protrusions 188) are fan-shaped columnar shapes having a central angle of 90 degrees, and the center of the cylinder in each of the conversion device upper portion 179 and the conversion device lower portion 180. Two are provided symmetrically about the axis.

The conversion device lower portion 180 is formed with a drop gap 186 that communicates with the medal discharge port 173 at a position corresponding to the lower portion of the guide convex portion 175. The drop gap 186 is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view such that the length in the short side direction substantially coincides with the “medal thickness” and the longitudinal direction substantially coincides with the “medal width”.
A space is formed in a portion where the upper guide convex portion 187 of the conversion device upper portion 179 is not provided, and an inclined inclined surface 176 is formed in a portion where the lower guide convex portion 188 of the conversion device lower portion 180 is not provided. An inclined portion 174 having Here, the inclined surface 176 is composed of a pair of members that are inclined with respect to each other with the drop gap 186 interposed therebetween. This inclined surface 176 is one of the front and back sides of the medal (specifically, the medal has entered the receiving opening 171 when the two locations near the lower end of the medal abut against the corresponding inclined surface 176, respectively. However, as seen from the front and back sides of the medal in a state before the medal is rotated by the inclined surface 176, as shown in FIGS. As seen from the left direction in FIG. 7, it is formed so as to be inclined downward and the other contact portion is inclined upward. Specifically, when viewed from the left in FIG. 7, the inclined surface 176 has an upper end edge of one lower guide convex portion 188 (specifically, of the upper end edge of the lower guide convex portion 188, the medal discharge port 173 has a downwardly inclined surface 177 that is inclined in the direction orthogonal to the upper edge from the upper edge in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the 173 and obliquely downward. Further, the inclined surface 176 is an upper end edge of the other lower guide convex portion 188 (specifically, an upper end of the other lower guide convex portion 188 in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the medal discharge port 173) Edge), which is in a direction perpendicular to the upper edge of the upper edge and is inclined downward and obliquely downward, and is provided with an upward inclined surface 178 that is upwardly inclined as viewed from the left in FIG.

In the present embodiment, the upper edge of the guide protrusion 175 is the upper end of the inclined surface 176, and the position of the upper surface of the medal discharge port 173 is the lower end of the inclined surface 176 in the height direction. . The inclined surface 176 is not necessarily limited to this, and the upper end of the inclined surface 176 may be provided at a position lower than the upper end edge of the guide convex portion 175, and the medal discharge port The lower end in the height direction of the inclined surface 176 may be provided at a position higher than the upper surface of 173.
In this embodiment, the guide convex portion 175 is provided on both the conversion device upper portion 179 and the conversion device lower portion 180. However, the guide convex portion 175 is provided only on the conversion device upper portion 179 and the conversion device lower portion 180. The drop gap 186 and the inclined surface 176 may be provided below the guide convex portion 175 without providing them.

Further, in the present embodiment, the inclined surface 176 is provided only in the lower part of the conversion device 180 and is not provided in the upper part 179 of the conversion device. However, the inclined surface of the lower part 180 of the conversion device is not particularly limited thereto. An inclined surface 176 that matches 176 may also be provided on the upper part 179 of the conversion device.
In the medal surface direction changing device 170, the front and back surfaces of the medal are between the guide protrusions (to be exact, the two opposite sides of the guide convex portions 175 (the guide convex portions 175 are fan-shaped columns (the upper surface and the lower surface are fan-shaped) Column) and the lower edge of the medal is inclined with the edge between the intersection of the two fan-shaped radii on the upper surface and the intersection of the two fan-shaped radii on the lower surface) 176 (upwardly inclined surface 178 and downwardly inclined surface 177) is formed so as to be able to contact both.

The two lower guide protrusions 188 have a distance between the sides parallel to the longitudinal direction of the medal discharge port 173 among the sides corresponding to the fan-shaped radius in plan view. In addition, the sides perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the medal discharge port 173 are also formed so as to be separated from each other by about the thickness of the medal.
The medal inserted from the receiving opening 171 is supported between the guide convex portions 175, and the lower end portion of the medal contacts both the downward inclined surface 177 and the upward inclined surface 178, so that the inclined surface Along the receiving gap 186 and the medal outlet 173 in a state of rotating 90 degrees with the receiving opening 171 while rotating in the same direction as the clockwise direction (on the clock placed with the dial face up on the horizontal surface). It is formed so that it can fall toward. Then, in a state where the medal is rotated 90 degrees along the inclined surface 176, the rotation is stopped by the wall of the guide convex portion 175 and the direction is aligned with the drop gap 186 and the medal discharge port 173. As a result, the receiving opening 171 It is formed so as to be discharged from the medal discharge port 173 in a rotated state by 90 degrees. Of course, the rotation angle is not limited to 90 degrees, and the longitudinal direction of the medal insertion slot 14 (the medal width direction, specifically, according to the positional relationship of the medal insertion slot 14, the medal selector 16, and the sorting means 160) Depending on the relative angle between the medal width direction in the state where the medal is inserted and the slope 111 of the medal selector 16, the angle may be less than 90 degrees or greater than 90 degrees. Good.

Note that the medal surface direction conversion device 170 is not limited to the above-described one, and other configurations may be used as long as the medal surface direction can be changed by rotating the medal horizontally. You may have.
Here, when the conversion device upper part 179 and the conversion device lower part 180 are combined, positioning means 181 for facilitating the positioning of both is formed.
The positioning means 181 includes two cylindrical positioning projections 182 projecting downward from the lower surface of the conversion device upper portion 179, and the positioning projection 182 can be fitted therein, and the upper surface of the conversion device lower portion 180. And a positioning concave portion 183 which is two cylindrical concave holes which are open at the same time.

One positioning convex portion 182 is formed on each of the lower surfaces of the two fan-shaped upper guide convex portions 187 of the conversion device upper portion 179, and a total of two are formed at intervals of 180 degrees in the circumferential direction.
Each of the positioning recesses 183 is aligned with the positioning protrusions 182 on the upper surfaces of the two fan-shaped lower guide protrusions 188 of the conversion device lower portion 180, and is 180 degrees apart in the effect direction. A total of two are formed. The diameter of the hole of the positioning concave portion 183 is formed to be slightly larger than the diameter of the column of the positioning convex portion 182 so that both can be fitted.
By fitting the positioning convex portion 182 into the positioning concave portion 183, the assembly of the conversion device upper portion 179 and the conversion device lower portion 180 can be simplified.

Here, the conversion device upper portion 179 and the conversion device lower portion 180 are bonded to each other by an adhesive, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to this, and the position of the positioning means 181 of the conversion device upper portion 179 is not limited thereto. A hole that can be screwed from below is provided in the upper part, a hole penetrating vertically is provided at the position of the positioning means 181 of the lower part of the converter 180, and a screw as a fastening member is screwed from below, thereby converting the converter lower part 180 and the converter. The upper part 179 of the device may be joined. Moreover, you may form so that both can be joined by providing an other engaging part and to-be-engaged part.
Further, for example, one or both of the positioning convex portion 182 and the positioning concave portion 183 is made of an elastic member that can be expanded and contracted, and the dimensional shape of the outer diameter of at least a part of the positioning convex portion 182 is the positioning concave portion 183. Once the positioning convex portion 182 is inserted into the positioning concave portion 183, the positioning convex portion 182 is displaced from the positioning concave portion 183 by the frictional resistance between the surfaces of the positioning convex portion 182. It may be formed so that both can be joined by being formed so that it cannot be pulled out. Specifically, for example, the positioning concave portion 183 is cylindrical, and the tip surface of the columnar positioning convex portion 182 is substantially the same as the cylindrical circular portion (upper surface and bottom surface) of the positioning concave portion 183. Although the shape is large, the rear end (the base end side of the cylinder) of the positioning convex portion 182 is at least larger than the size (diameter) of the circular portion of the upper surface of the positioning concave portion 183. . One or both of the positioning convex portion 182 and the positioning concave portion 183 is formed of an elastic member that can be expanded and contracted, and both are engaged by frictional resistance caused by the repulsive force at the rear end of the positioning convex portion 182. It is like being formed so that the combined state can be maintained.

In this embodiment and the above-described variations, the positioning convex portion 182 may be provided in the conversion device lower portion 180 and the positioning recess 183 may be provided in the conversion device upper portion 179.
Further, in the present embodiment, the medal face direction conversion device 170 is formed separately into two parts, the conversion device upper part 179 and the conversion device lower part 180, but it is not necessarily required to be separated into two. Further, it may be formed by disassembling three or more parts and assembling them.
(Medal behavior in medal face direction changing device 170)
The medal that has entered the direction changing passage 172 from the receiving opening 171 in a standing state falls downward while being supported by the guide convex portion 175 on the front and back surfaces. Then, in the state where the upper part of the medal is sandwiched between the upper guide convex parts 187 of the guide convex part 175, the lower end part of the medal comes into contact with both the upward inclined surface 178 and the downward inclined surface 177 of the inclined surface 176. .

At this time, the inclined surface 176 has one abutting portion as a descending inclined surface 177 as viewed from one of the front and back sides of the medal, and the other abutting portion as an ascending inclined surface 178 that is inclined upward. Is formed. Therefore, when the medal further falls, one abutting portion of the medal descends along the descending inclined surface 177, and the other abutting portion of the medal becomes an ascending inclination with respect to the descending inclined surface 177. An attempt is made to descend along the downward direction of the upward inclined surface 178.
Therefore, the medal rotates laterally along the downward inclination direction of each inclined surface 176 with its rotation axis supported by the pair of guide convex portions 175 on the front and back surfaces. In other words, it rotates clockwise around the central axis in the direction of gravity passing through the center of gravity of the medal as viewed from above. Then, when the medal rotates 90 degrees to the medal discharge port 173, it is discharged from the medal discharge port 173 to the outside of the medal surface direction changing device 170.

The front and back surfaces of medals entering from the receiving opening 171 are provided to face in the front-rear direction when viewed from the front of the gaming machine 1, and the front and back surfaces of medals discharged from the medal discharge port 173 are An inclined surface 176 is provided so as to be in the left-right direction when viewed from the front. Accordingly, the medal can be converted into a state in which the angle of the front and back surfaces of the medal is rotated by 90 degrees in the horizontal direction by passing through the medal surface direction conversion device 170.
Since the medal surface direction changing device 170 is disposed below the medal insertion slot 14 and between the medal insertion slot 14 and the medal selector 16, the orientation of the front and back surfaces of the medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 14 Although the orientation of the front and back surfaces of the medal on the slope 111 of the medal selector 16 is different, the direction of the front and back surfaces of the medal is changed when the medal falls in the direction changing passage 172. Thereby, it is not necessary to provide a long transfer passage between the medal slot 14 and the medal selector 16 so as to change the direction of the medal little by little along the passage.

(Medal selector 16)
The medal selector 16 has an inclined path 111 that rolls medals in a standing posture in a standing direction in order to select medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 14. Specifically, the medal selector 16 is inserted from the medal slot 14 and the medal surface direction changing device 170 rotates the medal front and back surfaces in the horizontal direction by 90 degrees, that is, the front and back surfaces of the medal are in the gaming machine 1. The medal discharged from the medal discharge port 173 in the state of facing the left-right direction, with the front and back sides of the medal standing up and down in the left-right direction of the gaming machine 1, the opening slit on the front side of the top surface of the medal selector 16 Accept from (not shown). Then, the medal selector 16 rolls in the same direction from the front side toward the back direction of the gaming machine 1 through the ramp 111, and the medal is rolled on the ramp 111. Such selection and counting of the number of inserted medals by a predetermined sensor are possible. Then, the medals that have rolled on the slope 111 are discharged toward the sorting means 160 of the storage device 130 from the selector discharge port 112 that opens toward the back of the medal selector 16 at the back end of the slope 111. Is formed.

(Storage device 130 (hopper unit 15))
The storage device 130 is a hopper unit 15 for storing appropriate medals selected by the medal selector 16. The storage device 130 opens upward and can store medals, and is positioned below the hopper 131 so that a predetermined number of medals stored in the hopper 131 can be sent out from the payout port 17 and discharged. A medal delivery disk 132 and rotation driving means (not shown) of the medal delivery disk 132. A circular hole capable of storing a medal is opened on the surface of the medal feeding disk 132, and the medal feeding disk 132 is rotated by a rotation driving motor as a rotation driving means, and the medal that enters the hole is sent out as a medal. Each of the disks 132 is formed so that it can be discharged from the lower side toward the payout port 17 one by one.

  A collection box 150 is disposed on the right side of the storage device 130 for collecting the overflowing medals when the medals stored in the storage device 130 are full and overflowing. The medal selector is located at a position corresponding to the medal discharge port 173 of the medal surface direction changing device 170 attached to the front door 3 in the state where the top of the hopper 131 on the collection box 150 side and the front door 3 are closed. Sorting means 160 for sorting medals discharged from the 16 selector discharge ports 112 to either the storage device 130 or the collection box 150 is formed. The distribution unit 160 is formed in the upper part of the storage device 130. However, as long as the medal from the medal selector 16 can be distributed to either the storage device 130 or the collection box 150, the storage device is not necessarily used. It is not necessary to provide 130. This distribution means 160 is only required to be provided between the storage device 130 and the recovery box 150 as long as it has such a distribution function, and may be provided in the recovery box 150. It may be fixed to structural members around the device 130 and the recovery box 150.

(Distributing means 160 (overflow chute 161))
The distribution means 160 is for distributing medals from the medal selector 16 to either the storage device 330 or the collection box 150.
Specifically, as the distribution means 360, an overflow chute 161 capable of guiding medals overflowing from the storage device 330 to the recovery box 150 is provided on the recovery box 150 side of the storage device 330 (right side from the front of the gaming machine 1). The medal discharged from the medal discharge port 173 of the medal surface direction changing device 170 attached to the front door 3 in a state where the front door 3 is closed is provided on the path where the medal is dropped.

The overflow chute 161 is a storage guide path 163 for guiding the medals discharged from the selector outlet 112 of the medal selector 16 to the storage device 130, and a wall inclined obliquely upward from the left end of the storage guide path 163. In addition, an inclined side wall 162 that assists the rolling of the medal to the storage device 130 and a downward inclination from the right end of the storage guide path 163 toward the lower right side, and the medal flowing down the storage guide path 163 is moved to the collection box 150. A discharge guide path 164 for guiding a medal to be played, and a recovery box opening 165 at the right end of the discharge guide path 164 and opening on the front and back of the right side wall of the hopper 131.
Then, an appropriate medal selected from the selector discharge port 112 of the medal selector 16 is directly dropped onto the storage guide path 163 of the overflow chute 361.

(Medal behavior in sorting means 160)
The overflow chute 361 stores a medal that has fallen from the selector outlet 112 of the medal selector 16 via the storage guide path 163 and the inclined side wall 162 when a predetermined amount of medals is not stored in the storage device 330. Guide inside 330. Since there are no medals overflowing in the storage device 130, the medals that have rolled along the storage guide path 163 and the inclined side wall 162 are inserted into the hopper 131 as they are, as indicated by the white arrows in FIG. Is formed. On the other hand, when a predetermined amount of medals are stored in the storage device 330 and the medals stored from the hopper 131 are overflowing, the medals falling from the selector outlet 112 of the medal selector 16 are stored in the storage device 330. The medals that have been rolled by colliding with the medals overflowing from the upper part of the hopper 131, the medals that have been pushed out by the collision of the medals, or both of these medals are black in FIG. As indicated by the coating arrow, the roll rolls to the right along the downward inclined surface of the discharge guide path 164, is guided to the right end, and is fed from the collection box opening 165 toward the collection box 150.

  Thus, depending on whether or not a predetermined amount of medals are stored in the storage device 130, the medals dropped to the overflow chute 161 from the medal selector 110 are directly guided to the storage device 130 or to the collection box 150. Can be sorted out. As a result, when a predetermined amount of medals stored by a predetermined sensor is stored by using the stored medals directly for branching medals, the amount of medals stored in the storage device 130 is stored. Compared to a moving device that changes the moving direction of medals with a movable device in the middle of the aisle, it is possible to sort medals with a simple structure without providing a special sensor or moving device, reducing the initial insertion cost. In addition, since there is no movable part, no failure occurs and the running cost can be reduced.

(Recovery box 150)
The collection box 150 is for collecting medals overflowing from the storage device 130 when the medals stored in the storage device 130 are full and further medals are inserted. The collection box 150 is disposed on the right side of the housing 2 and is disposed below the collection box opening 165 of the storage device 130 and on the right side of the storage device 130. This is because the front door 3 is formed so that the left end is pivotally supported and the right end side of the front door 3 is open, so even if the front door 3 is not fully opened, the front door 3 can be opened only a little. The box 150 is formed so as to be collected. A medal amount detection sensor capable of detecting the amount of medals inside the collection box 150 is provided in the middle of the height direction inside the collection box 150, and the collection box 150 is detected by the medal amount detection sensor. It is formed so that an external administrator can know that the inside of the machine has reached a predetermined amount.

(Function and effect)
The traveling direction of the ramp 111 for selecting medals by the medal selector 16 is formed in a downward sloping direction from the front of the gaming machine 1 toward the back. Then, the medal is moved in the back direction along the inclined path 111 inclined in the back direction, and is put into the sorting means 160 ahead. The distribution means 160 distributes medals to either the storage device 130 or the collection box 150. As described above, the traveling direction of the ramp 111 of the medal selector 16 is not formed in the horizontal direction from the front of the gaming machine 1 as a downward slope from the front of the gaming machine 1 toward the back. As a result, the medal can be inserted directly from the medal selector 16 into the sorting means 160 provided at the right end of the storage device 130 and between the storage device 130 and the collection box 150 without moving the medal in the left-right direction. Thus, the route through which medals pass can be shortened. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the right and left slopes required to move to the position of the sorting means 160, to reduce the height occupied by the slopes, and to lower the position of the medal slot 14. In addition, it is possible to reduce the space occupied by the path through which the medal passes. As a result, the position of the medal insertion slot 14 can be lowered, which facilitates the introduction of an automatic insertion machine that requires a steep slope, and the space on the back side of the front door 3 and the interior of the housing 2 It is possible to provide a large number of parts for production that can improve the performance.

  Normally, the medal slot 14 is arranged on the right side of the front door 3 for convenience when a right-handed person inserts a medal with his right hand. Similarly, a right-handed person opens and closes the key for opening and closing the front door 3 key. Is arranged on the right side so that the left side of the front door 3 is pivotally supported. In such a case, the collection box 150 is disposed on the right side when viewed from the front of the gaming machine 1 in consideration of the convenience of taking out the work etc. without opening all the front doors 3. At this time, when the slope 111 of the medal selector 16 is set in the left-right direction, the medal insertion slot 14 is located on the right side, so that there is no space on the right side for providing the slope 111 for moving the medal in the right direction. For this reason, the slope 111 of the medal selector 16 must be inclined leftward from the position of the medal slot 14 located on the right side of the front door 3. After that, it is necessary to move the medal moved leftward toward the collection box 150 located on the right side of the housing 2 to the right using a slope or the like and return it. Since such a moving slope in the left-right direction is required, the height required for the slope is required. On the other hand, by making the slope 111 of the medal selector 16 downwardly inclined toward the back direction, the medals as described above are moved leftward and again moved rightward toward the collection box 150. There is no need, and the height required for the slope for moving in the left-right direction can be eliminated. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 13, when the slope 111 of the medal selector 16 is set in the left-right direction, the height A of the conventional medal slot 14 is required. That is, when the slope 111 of the medal selector 16 is provided in the left-right direction, the height C that can be shortened by changing the medal path is indispensable for designing the position of the medal slot 14. On the other hand, as in the present embodiment, the height 111 of the medal selector 16 can be omitted from the height design of the medal slot 14 by making the slope 111 of the medal selector 16 downwardly inclined toward the back. The height B of the medal slot 14 shown in FIG. 13 can be set, and the position of the medal slot 14 can be lowered.

In this way, the position of the medal insertion slot 14 can be lowered, so that the medal transfer path from the automatic insertion device of the adjacent medal lending machine can be made steep, and the medal is dropped with a steep slope. And the flow speed of the medal can be sufficiently accelerated. Thereby, the medal can be transferred from the adjacent medal lending machine to the gaming machine 1 with a good tempo (efficiently), and the degree of freedom in designing the automatic insertion of the medal can be expanded.
In particular, the placement of the automatic medal insertion device in the medal lending machine adjacent to the gaming machine 1, especially the design freedom of the position in the height direction increases, so that the bill insertion device, the medal replenishing port, the medal in the medal lending machine are increased. The restriction on the arrangement (layout) of the hopper (medal storage device) is reduced. As a result, it becomes possible to place a bill insertion device, a medal replenishment port, a medal hopper, etc. as internal devices of the medal lending machine at the upper part of the medal lending machine, and improve the security of those component devices of the medal lending machine. You can plan. In addition, by increasing the degree of freedom of arrangement (layout) inside the medal lending machine, it is possible to secure a necessary space in the medal lending machine, such as raising the upper end of the hopper of the medal hopper (storage device) inside the medal lending machine. The capacity can be increased by the above.

Further, in the gaming machine 1, the position of the medal slot can be lowered, the space occupied by the passage of medals inserted from the medal slot is reduced, and the internal space of the housing with respect to other parts, etc. Can be provided. Thereby, a gaming machine capable of enhancing merchantability can be provided.
Further, the invention according to the present embodiment does not have to be for lowering the medal slot 14 as described above, and a medal transfer path is provided directly from the medal selector 16 to the rear storage device 130 side. Thus, the medal insertion path from the medal insertion port 14 to the storage device 130 can be shortened. As a result, it is possible to provide an effect device in the space where the front door 3 is vacant.

Further, the hopper capacity can be increased by extending the upper end of the hopper unit 15 as the storage device 130 upward by an amount corresponding to an empty space inside the housing 2.
In addition, since a member such as the curve chute 380 required in the conventional technique is not required, the space can be reduced accordingly. Further, if the direction changing passage 172 is not provided, the occupied space can be further reduced.
In the present embodiment, even if a medal is inserted from the medal insertion slot 14 in such a direction that the front and back surfaces of the medal face the front direction or the back direction of the gaming machine 1, the medal surface direction conversion device 170 It is possible to change the direction of the front and back surfaces of the medal to the left and right without changing the moving direction of the medal while maintaining the standing posture. As a result, the medal in such a state can be smoothly shifted to the ramp 111 in which the medal is tilted downward from the front of the gaming machine 1 toward the back and the medal is rolled in the standing direction.

  In this way, by using the medal face direction conversion device 170, the medal can be inserted in such a direction that the front and back surfaces of the medal face the front direction or the back direction of the gaming machine 1, so that the conventional gaming machine 1 The direction of the front and back surfaces of the medal when the medal is inserted can be made the same. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the player who is used to the medal insertion direction of the conventional model from feeling uncomfortable in operation. In addition, since the medal can be inserted simply by pushing the medal from the front toward the back, the medal is inserted by moving the medal from the left to the right or from the right to the left when inserting the medal. The medal insertion operation can be facilitated as compared with those.

  In the present embodiment, the medal slot 14 is formed so that the front and back surfaces of the medal face the front-rear direction of the gaming machine 1, so that the medal surface direction changing device 170 is used to place the medal in the horizontal direction. It is formed so that it can be rotated in the back direction by the inclined path 111 of the medal selector 16 after being rotated 90 degrees. However, by forming the medal slot 14 so that the front and back surfaces of the medal face the left and right direction of the gaming machine 1, the medal slot direction change device 170 as described above is not interposed, and the medal slot 14 The medal can be inserted into the ramp 111 of the medal selector 16 without changing the medal face direction. Thereby, the distance in the vertical direction of the medal surface direction changing device 170 can be made unnecessary, and the position of the medal slot 14 can be lowered downward. In addition, the hopper capacity can be increased by using the generated space without lowering the position of the medal slot, and the space can be provided to other effects devices.

  Here, in the above-described embodiment, the medals selected by the medal selector 16 are input from the medal selector 16 to the sorting means 360, but the present invention is not particularly limited thereto. Specifically, the medals selected by the medal selector 16 may be directly inserted into the storage device 130. For this purpose, the medal inserted into the storage device 130 has a distribution means 160 formed in the middle of flowing through the storage device 130, or the storage device has no distribution means 160. The medals overflowing when 130 is full are included such that the medals fall naturally from an opening or the like provided in the storage device 130.

1 gaming machine 2 chassis
3 Front door 4 Upper door
5 Lower door 14 Medal slot
15 Hopper unit 16 Medal selector
17 Outlet 111 Ramp
130 Storage device 150 Collection box
160 Sorting means 161 Overflow chute
170 Medal face direction changer 171 Receiving opening
172 Direction change passage 173 Medal outlet
175 Guide convex part 176 Inclined surface
186 Fall gap

Claims (7)

A medal slot for inserting medals from outside into the gaming machine,
A medal selector having a ramp that rolls the medal in a standing posture in a standing direction to select the medal inserted from the medal slot;
A gaming machine comprising a storage device for storing appropriate medals selected by the medal selector,
The traveling direction of the medals on the ramp is formed in a downward slope direction from the front of the gaming machine toward the back direction,
A collection box for collecting medals overflowing from the storage device is provided adjacent to the lateral direction of the storage device,
The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein an appropriate medal selected by the medal selector is inserted from the medal selector into the storage device. A medal slot for inserting medals from outside into the gaming machine,
A medal selector having a ramp that rolls the medal in a standing posture in a standing direction to select the medal inserted from the medal slot;
A gaming machine comprising a storage device for storing appropriate medals selected by the medal selector,
The traveling direction of the medals on the ramp is formed in a downward slope direction from the front of the gaming machine toward the back direction,
A collection box for collecting medals overflowing from the storage device is provided adjacent to the lateral direction of the storage device,
In the vicinity between the storage device and the collection box, a distribution unit that distributes medals from the medal selector to either the storage device or the collection box is provided.
The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein an appropriate medal selected by the medal selector is inserted from the medal selector into the distribution means. The gaming machine has a rectangular box-like housing having a front opening that opens to the front, and the front opening of the housing is closed so as to be openable and closable, and is pivotally supported on the left side from the front of the housing. With a front door,
The medal slot is arranged on the right side when viewed from the front of the gaming machine,
The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the collection box is arranged on the right side from the front of the storage device and on the right side from the front of the housing. The medal slot is opened upward in a shape such that a medal is inserted in such a direction that the front and back surfaces of the medal face the front direction or the back direction of the gaming machine,
Between the medal slot and the medal selector, there is provided a medal surface direction changing device that changes the front and back direction of the medal left and right without changing the advancing direction of the medal while maintaining the standing posture of the medal. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The medal slot is opened upward in a shape such that medals are thrown in such a direction that the front and back surfaces of the medal face in the right direction or the left direction when the gaming machine is viewed from the front.
The medal inserted from the medal slot is formed so as to enter the ramp of the medal selector in the same direction without changing the direction of the front and back surfaces of the medal. 4. The gaming machine according to any one of up to 3. The medal face direction changing device includes:
A receiving opening for receiving a medal from the medal slot from above;
A direction changing passage for changing the direction of the front and back surfaces of the medal entered from the receiving opening, and a medal discharge port for discharging the medal changed in direction by the direction changing passage to the outside of the apparatus,
The direction changing passage is
A pair of guide protrusions provided below the receiving opening, projecting toward the vertical central axis of the receiving opening, and facing each other with a gap of a substantially medal thickness;
A pair of inclined surfaces that are positioned below or below the guide convex portion, have a gap of approximately medal thickness, form a drop gap that communicates with the medal discharge port, and tilt with the drop gap interposed therebetween. Prepared,
The longitudinal direction of the drop gap and the longitudinal direction of the receiving opening are formed so as not to coincide with each other,
In the state where the front and back surfaces of the medal are sandwiched between the guide protrusions, two locations near the lower end of the medal are formed so as to be able to contact the corresponding inclined surfaces,
The inclined surface is formed such that when the lower end portion of the medal comes into contact, when viewed from the front and back sides of the medal, one of the contact portions is inclined downward and the other contact portion is inclined upward. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: As the sorting means, an overflow chute capable of guiding medals overflowing from the storage device to the recovery box is provided on the recovery box side of the storage device,
A proper medal selected from the medal selector is formed to drop directly on the overflow chute,
The overflow chute is
When a predetermined amount of medals is not stored in the storage device, guide the medals from the medal selector into the storage device,
When a predetermined amount of medals are stored in the storage device, the medals from the medal selector collide with the medals in the storage device so that the medals from the medal selector are guided to the collection box. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the gaming machine is provided.

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