JP2013125431A5 - - Google Patents

Description

Disk transport device

The present invention relates to a disk transport apparatus that transports a disk that is sent one by one to a predetermined position and discharges it, and more particularly to a disk transport apparatus that is preferably used when processing a plurality of types of disks having different diameters. .
The “disc” used in the present specification includes currency coins, substitute money such as medals and tokens of game machines, and the like.

  There are several types of disks such as coins and medals with different diameters or thicknesses, and the disk processing device can handle these multiple types (ie, multiple denominations) of disks. An apparatus has been conventionally proposed. For example, there are coin hopper devices disclosed in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 for disc delivery devices that separate and send discs in a stacked state one by one.

  In the devices disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, a circular support shelf that protrudes in the center of the rotating disk is arranged on the upper surface of the rotating disk that is inclined upward, and the coins are locked radially from the supporting shelf side. The coin is pushed by the coin locking body while being supported by the support shelf, and is guided and sent out in the circumferential direction of the rotating disk by the coin receiving means arranged at a predetermined position. Patent Document 3 discloses an improved version of the coin hopper device of Patent Document 2.

  On the other hand, in a money change machine, a vending machine, a game machine, etc., a disk sent out from a disk sending device may be transported to a predetermined position. For example, Patent Document 4 discloses a coin sending having a coin guide passage called an escalator. An apparatus is disclosed. Patent Document 5 discloses a coin lifting device using a spiral body (also referred to as a screw), and the coin lifting device also supports a plurality of denominations.

  However, in the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 4, since the coins in the escalator are conveyed while the lower coins push the upper coins in an aligned state, they cannot cope with denominations having different diameters. That is, the inner dimension of the coin passage formed in the escalator must be compatible with the denomination to be transported, and the range of the diameter of the coin to be matched is small. For example, even when trying to transport a coin with a small diameter relative to the inner dimension of the coin path, the coin cannot be properly aligned in the escalator and becomes zigzag-shaped, increasing the frictional resistance during transport and increasing the stability of the coin. Transport and release is difficult. Also, when coins with different thicknesses are mixed even if the diameter is the same, the thickness of the coin path is set corresponding to the coin with the maximum thickness, so in the case of thin coins, the movement range in the thickness direction is large, The upper end of the upper coin cannot be pushed up by the upper end of the lower coin, and the upper end and the lower end overlap with each other, so that the coin cannot be moved in the coin path, so-called coin clogging occurs.

  In the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 5, although it is easy to cope with denominations having different diameters or thicknesses, the larger the coin diameter, the easier the outer peripheral surface of the coin is detached from the outer peripheral surface of the spiral body, and the larger diameter coin In this case, a coin is caught between the spiral body and the guide passage, and so-called biting occurs. Therefore, in reality, it is necessary to exchange the spiral body in accordance with the diameter of the coin, and there is a problem that the diameter range that can be handled is insufficient. Furthermore, since the spiral body slides the coin, there is a problem that it is easy to wear and the durability is inferior.

  Therefore, there is a demand for a new disk transport device that is compatible with size-free and has a wide range of diameters or thicknesses of disks that can be used and can transport disks of various denominations.

  On the other hand, if a unique visual effect is obtained with the movement of a disk such as a coin or medal in a game machine or the like, a new effect can be produced in the game machine or the like. Therefore, a disk transport device having an excellent visual effect is desired.

European Patent Application No. 0957456 (FIGS. 1-7, pages 2-4) JP 2008-97322 A (FIG. 4, paragraph number 0006, paragraph numbers 0026 to 0028) JP 2009-70008 (FIG. 4, paragraph numbers 0051 to 0058) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-94575 (FIGS. 1 and 2, paragraph number 0011) Japanese Patent No. 3003410 (FIGS. 2 to 4, paragraph numbers 0007 and 0021)

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described problems of the prior art, and the object of the present invention is to have a wide range of compatible disc diameters or thicknesses and to easily carry discs of various denominations. It is to provide a disk transport device.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a disc transport apparatus capable of generating a new visual effect as the disc is transported.
Other objects of the present invention which are not specified here will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

  In order to achieve this object, the present invention is configured as follows.

  The disc transport device of the present invention is a disc transport device that receives the discs sent one by one at the entrance and transports them to the exit, and forms a back guide surface that guides one of the front and back surfaces of the disc. And a top portion that forms a front guide surface that guides the other of the front and back surfaces of the disc relative to the back guide surface, left and right guide surfaces that guide the peripheral surface of the disc, and the front and back guide surfaces. A disc guide passage configured to extend from the inlet toward the outlet, and arranged in a predetermined order from the inlet toward the outlet, and rotates about a rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the front and back guide surfaces Pushing the disc by rotating around the corresponding rotation axis, each of which is provided on the plurality of rotating discs and protrudes into the disc guiding passage. That the disk pusher, is disposed in the base portion, a disk transporting device and a projector for projecting light toward the top portion.

  In the disc transport apparatus of the present invention, the back guide surface for guiding one of the front and back surfaces of the disc is formed by the base portion, and the front guide surface for guiding the other of the front and back surfaces of the disc is formed by the top portion. The left and right guide surfaces that guide the circumferential surface of the disc and the front and back guide surfaces constitute a disc guide passage that extends from the entrance toward the exit. A plurality of turntables that rotate about a rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the front and back guide surfaces are arranged in a predetermined order from the inlet toward the outlet. A disk pusher projecting into the disk guide passage is provided on each of the plurality of rotating disks, and the disk pushes as the disk pusher circulates around the corresponding rotation axis. Therefore, the range of the diameter or thickness of the disc that can be conveyed is widened. That is, since the disk pusher protruding into the disk guide passage is disposed between the left and right guide surfaces, it is larger than the space between the left and right guide surfaces and the disk pusher, and the space between the left and right guide surfaces. If the disc has a smaller diameter, the disc can be moved and supported while being supported by either one of the left and right guide surfaces and the disc pusher. Therefore, the diameter range of the disc that can be conveyed is widened. On the other hand, since the discs are pushed and conveyed one by one by the disc pushers, adjacent discs do not overlap in the disc guide path. Therefore, even if the distance between the front and back guide surfaces is set wide, the disk does not become jammed. Therefore, the thickness range of the disc that can be transported is widened, and a plurality of types of discs having different diameters or thicknesses can be transported easily.

  In addition, a projector that projects light toward the top portion is disposed in the base portion. In other words, the light from the projector is projected onto the top portion. Therefore, by appropriately setting the position of the projector in the base portion, the projection light traveling from the base portion toward the top portion is blocked by the disc moving in the disc guide path. Since the disk is pushed and conveyed one by one by each of the disk pushers, the interruption of the projection light by the disk becomes intermittent, and the projection light blinks at the top portion. Therefore, a new visual effect is generated as the disc is transported.

  The disc transport apparatus of the present invention has a wide range of compatible disc diameters or thicknesses, and can easily transport discs of various denominations. In addition, a new visual effect can be generated as the disc is transported.

It is a perspective view which shows the disc delivery apparatus of one Example with which the disc conveying apparatus of this invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a front view of the disk dispensing device in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a side view of the disc dispensing apparatus in FIG. 1. It is a front view which shows a part of disk delivery apparatus and disk conveyance apparatus which comprise the disk delivery apparatus of FIG. It is sectional drawing along the VV line of FIG. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of a disk delivery device and a disk transport device that constitute the disk dispensing device of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a main part, viewed from the front side, showing a disk transport device that constitutes the disk dispensing apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of a disk transport device that constitutes the disk dispensing apparatus of FIG. 1 as viewed from the back side. It is the top view seen from the back surface side which shows the top plate of the disc conveying apparatus which comprises the disc dispensing apparatus of FIG. It is a front view which shows the base body of the disc conveying apparatus which comprises the disc dispensing apparatus of FIG. It is sectional drawing along the XI-XI line of FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a driving force transmission mechanism of the disc dispensing apparatus of FIG. 1. It is a front view of the state which removed the top plate for demonstrating operation | movement of the disc delivery apparatus of FIG. FIG. 14 is a front view showing a state in which a top plate is removed for explaining the operation of the disc dispensing apparatus of FIG. 1 and is a continuation of FIG. 13. FIG. 15 is a front view showing a state where a top plate is removed for explaining the operation of the disc dispensing apparatus of FIG. 1 and is a continuation of FIG. 14. FIG. 16 is a front view showing a state in which the top plate is removed for explaining the operation of the disc dispensing apparatus of FIG. 1 and is a continuation of FIG. 15. FIG. 17 is a front view showing a state in which the top plate is removed for explaining the operation of the disc dispensing apparatus of FIG. 1 and is a continuation of FIG. 16. FIG. 18 is a front view showing a state in which the top plate is removed for explaining the operation of the disc dispensing apparatus of FIG. 1 and is a continuation of FIG. 17. FIG. 19 is a front view showing a state in which the top plate is removed for explaining the operation of the disc dispensing apparatus of FIG. 1 and is a continuation of FIG. FIG. 20 is a front view showing a state in which a top plate is removed for explaining the operation of the disc dispensing apparatus of FIG. 1 and is a continuation of FIG. 19. FIG. 21 is a front view showing a state in which the top plate is removed for explaining the operation of the disc dispensing apparatus of FIG. 1 and is a continuation of FIG. 20. FIG. 22 is a front view showing a state in which the top plate is removed for explaining the operation of the disc dispensing apparatus of FIG. 1 and is a continuation of FIG. 21. FIG. 23 is a front view showing a state in which a top plate for removing the operation of the disk dispensing apparatus in FIG. 1 is removed, and is a continuation of FIG. 22.

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

  1, 2 and 3 show a disk dispensing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment to which the disk conveying apparatus of the present invention is applied. The disk dispensing apparatus 1 has a function of dispensing the stacked disks D one by one to a predetermined dispensing position, and roughly includes a disk delivery apparatus 10 and a disk transport apparatus 20. The disk dispensing apparatus 1 can dispense a plurality of denomination disks D having different diameters or thicknesses, and functions as a so-called size-free disk dispensing apparatus.

(Disc delivery device)
First, the disk delivery device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. The disk delivery device 10 has a function of separating and delivering the stacked disks D one by one. The storage bowl 102 that holds a large number of disks D, and the holding bowl 102 that is tilted upward and supported and fixed. A mounting base 104 for rotating the disk D, a driving means 108 for driving the rotating disk 106, a receiving means 112 for receiving the disk from the rotating disk 106, and a disk dropping means 118.

(Holding bowl)
The holding bowl 102 has a function of holding a large number of disks D in a stacked state and feeding them toward the rotating disk 106. The storage bowl 102 projects forward (right side in FIG. 3) from the mounting base 104 and increases in depth as it approaches the rotating disk 106, in other words, the bottom wall 122 is inclined downward toward the rotating disk 106. The head portion 102A has a disk insertion port 102B for loading the disk D, and an exterior portion 102C that is in close contact with the mounting base 104 and surrounds at least the lower outer periphery of the rotating disk 106.

  The inclination of the bottom wall 122 is an angle at which the disk D can slide down to the rotating disk 106 side by its own weight. The head portion 102 </ b> A has a so-called saddle shape in which the rotating disk 106 side is opened, and an open end portion thereof is closely fixed to the mounting base 104. As shown in FIG. 5, a narrow vertical groove 124 is formed in front of the lower portion of the rotating disk 106 so that the dropped disk D can stand up easily. The vertical groove 124 is formed by a vertical wall 126 inclined to the rotary disk 106 side with respect to a perpendicular line substantially parallel to the rotary disk 106 formed following the exterior part 102C, the rotary disk 106, and the external part 102C. In this case, the distance between the upper surface of the rotating disk 106 and the vertical wall 126 of the retaining bowl 102 is set to be smaller than the diameter of the minimum diameter disk and 5 to 10 times the thickness of the maximum thickness disk. The interval is set so as to become wider toward the downstream side in the rotation direction. This is because the disk D stands up and is further tilted toward the rotating disk 106 so that the disk D is locked to a disk locking body 128 (to be described later) until the last one so that it can be dispensed.

  The exterior portion 102 </ b> C has a cylindrical ring shape, and is disposed close to the outer periphery of the rotating disk 106. Therefore, the discs D having different diameters are retained in a stacked state in the retaining bowl 102, slide down on the inclined bottom wall 122 due to their own weight, and sent to the rotating disc 106. Further, the disk D rotated by the rotating disk 106 is guided so as to remain on the rotating disk 106 by the exterior portion 102C.

(Mounting base)
The mounting base 104 has a function of rotatably supporting the rotating disk 106 and fixing the storage bowl 102. The mounting base 104 includes two horizontal mounting bases 104A, a first mounting part 104B inclined with respect to the mounting base 104A, a second mounting part 104C extending vertically upward from the upper end of the first mounting part 104B, and a mounting base 104B. It includes support side walls 104L and 104R which are erected substantially at right angles to the mounting portion 104A. The mounting table portion 104A has a rectangular flat plate shape and is formed integrally with the supporting side walls 104L and 104R. The first mounting portion 104B has a flat plate shape and is inclined at an upward angle of about 60 degrees with respect to the mounting table portion 104A. The rotating disk 106 is disposed on the upward upper surface 104U side, and the driving means 108 is disposed on the rear surface side. Is installed. The inclination angle of the first mounting portion 104B is preferably in the range of 50 degrees to 70 degrees. This is because when the angle is smaller than 50 degrees, the holding amount of the disk D is reduced, and when the angle is larger than 70 degrees, the disk D easily falls from a disk locking body 128 described later. The second mounting portion 104C is formed integrally with the first mounting portion 104B and supports the disc transport device 20.

(Rotating disc)
The rotating disk 106 has a function of sorting the disks D with different diameters one by one and transporting them to the receiving means 112. The rotating disk 106 is a disk, and a circular center protrusion 132 is formed at the center, a ring-shaped holding surface 134 is formed around the center protrusion 132, and a disk locking body 128 is formed radially on the holding surface 134. Is disposed close to the upward upper surface 104U. The rotating disk 106 is inclined upward and rotated counterclockwise in FIG. It is preferable to form a stirring protrusion 133 on the upper surface of the central protrusion 132 and thereby stir the disk D.

  The outer periphery of the central protrusion 132 is a support shelf 136, the support shelf 136 is substantially perpendicular to the holding surface 134, and the amount of protrusion from the holding surface 134 is set lower than the thickness of the thinnest disk that is assumed to be used. Yes. The support shelf 136 has a function of holding only one disk D on the holding surface 134 between the disk locking bodies 128. This is because the two disks D are not supported by the support shelf 136.

  The holding surface 134 has a function of holding the disk D in surface contact with one surface of the disk D whose peripheral surface is supported by the support shelf 136. The holding surface 134 is a ring-shaped flat surface formed on the outer periphery of the central protrusion 132 and is inclined about 60 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane.

  The disk locking body 128 is in contact with the peripheral surface of the disk D and has a function of pushing the disk D. The disc locking body 128 is a rib-like ridge formed in a fixed state radially at regular intervals with respect to the rotation axis of the rotary disc 106. In this embodiment, the disk locking body 128 has a trapezoidal shape with a trapezoidal shape when viewed from the front, and pushes the disk D by the pushing edge 138 at the front end in the rotational direction. The pushing edge 138 extends vertically upward with respect to the holding surface 134, and the height from the holding surface 134 may be a height at which the disk D can be pushed. However, when the height of the pushing edge 138 is low, the contact pressure per unit length when pushing the disk D increases, so it is preferable that it be as high as possible. On the other hand, when the height of the pushing edge 138 is higher than a predetermined amount, the length of the climbing slope 142 for the receiving means 112 described later becomes long, and the minimum diameter disc is pushed by the pushing edge 138. The minimum diameter disk is easily dropped from the disk receiving means 112 by being pushed up by the climbing slope 142. Therefore, it is preferable that the pushing edge 138 be formed as high as possible within a range in which it is not pushed up by the climbing slope 142 when the minimum diameter disk is pushed by the pushing edge 138. According to experiments, when the disk D having a diameter of 20 mm or more is targeted, the height of the pushing edge 138 is preferably about 2 mm.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the downstream edge 144 in the rotational direction of the disk locking body 128 is a pushing edge so that the entire length of the receiving edge 146 of the disk receiving body 145 constituting the disk receiving means 112 is close to the holding surface 134 at the same time. It is preferable to form it inclined with respect to 138. This is because when the disc receiver 145 comes close to the holding surface 134, the disc D is not sandwiched between the holding surface 134 and the disc receiver 145. The top portion 147 and the downstream edge 144 of the disk locking body 128 are formed on a stepped slope 149. One surface of the disk D is held in surface contact with the holding surface 134 between the adjacent disk locking bodies 128. Therefore, the distance between the pushing edge 138 and the downstream edge 144 on the holding surface 134 is such that the support shelf 136 side is narrow and gradually expands toward the periphery of the rotating disk 106, and the holding surface 134 has a central protrusion 132. In contrast, it exhibits an inverted trapezoid. When one of the smallest diameter disks assumed to be used is supported on the support shelf 136, the other minimum diameter disk is set not to be supported by the support shelf 136. In other words, the two minimum diameter disks are set so as not to come into surface contact with the holding surface 134 at a position close to the support shelf 136. This is to prevent two disks D from being continuously paid out.

  The climbing slope 142 has a function of pushing up the end of the receiving edge 146 of the disc receiver 145 on the support shelf 136 side from the holding surface 134 along this end. As shown in FIG. 4, the climbing slope 142 is a slope that is formed at a corner formed by the support shelf 136 and the pushing edge 138 and is inclined from the holding surface 134 to the top 147 of the disk locking body 128. Are in contact with the support shelf 136 and the pushing edge 138, they are preferably formed in a triangular space formed by them. If the riding slope 142 is too large, a part of the disk D is placed on the riding slope 142 in a state where the disk D is guided by the receiving edge 146, and the disk D is likely to fall from the receiving edge 146. It is.

(Driving means)
The drive unit 108 has a function of rotating the rotary disk 106 at a predetermined speed. In the present embodiment, the driving means 108 includes an electric motor 152 and a speed reducer 154. A reduction gear 154 is fixed to the back surface of the first mounting portion 104B, and an output gear (not shown) of an electric motor 152 fixed to the reduction gear 154 is engaged with the input gear. An output shaft (not shown) of the speed reducer 154 passes through the first mounting portion 104B, and is tightly inserted and fixed in a fitting hole (not shown) in the center of the rotary disk 106.
The driving means 108 has an overload prevention function. That is, when the driving means 108 is overloaded due to an abnormality such as a disk jam, a reverse polarity current flows through the electric motor 152 by a control device (not shown), and the rotating disk 106 is rotated in the reverse direction. As a result, when the abnormality is resolved and the load state of the drive unit 108 becomes normal, the control device causes the rotary disk 106 to rotate forward again.

(Disc receiving means)
The disk receiving means 112 has a function of moving the disks D sent one by one by the rotating disk 106 in the circumferential direction of the rotating disk 106 and performing an escaping motion with respect to the disk locking body 128. In this embodiment, the disk receiving means 112 is a pentagonal plate body, an edge facing the pushing edge 138 is formed with a straight receiving edge 146, and the other end is movably supported by the floating support means 174. In addition, a disk receiver 145 is provided with a pushing edge 138 urged toward the rotating disk 106 by an urging means (not shown) at an intermediate portion.

  The receiving edge 146 extends in a straight line from the vicinity of the support shelf 136 in the circumferential direction of the rotary disk 106 and is opposed to the pushing edge 138 (when the disk D is positioned therebetween), the extended line of the edges. Is formed to form an acute angle. In other words, as shown in FIG. 4, the receiving edge 146 is offset upward with respect to the center of the rotary disk 106 and faces the entire length of the holding surface 134 in the circumferential direction.

  The floating support means 174 has a function of supporting the disc receiving means 112 so that the posture can be changed in any direction, up, down, left, and right within a predetermined range. More specifically, the receiving edge 146 of the disc receiving means 112 can move over the disc locking body 128 while being in contact with the climbing slope 142 at a position close to the holding surface 134. The floating support means 174 has the same configuration as that of the above-described Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-97322), and the description of the specific configuration is omitted here.

(Disc drop means)
The disk dropping means 118 has a function of dropping the disk D placed on the disk D held in contact with the holding surface 134 so that the overlapping disks D do not reach the receiving means 112. The disk dropping means 118 is disposed above the axis of the rotating disk 106 and relative to the periphery of the rotating disk 106. In other words, the disk dropping means 118 is at a position of about 2 o'clock with respect to the rotating disk 106 and, as shown in FIG. 4, is close to the holding surface 134 of the rotating disk 106 and advances and retreats in a parallel plane. It is configured to be possible. The disk dropping means 118 has the same configuration as that of Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-97322) described above, and detailed description thereof is omitted here.

(Disc transport device)
Next, the disk transport device 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. The disc transport apparatus 20 includes a disc guide portion 200 having a disc guide passage 210 extending from the inlet 202 toward the outlet 204, and first to first discs provided with a pair of disc pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L, respectively. The disc pushing mechanism 500 having 12 rotary plates 502A to 502L, the disc ejection means 230 and the disc payout detection sensor 240 disposed in the vicinity of the outlet 204, and the base body 300 (discussed later) of the disc guide portion 200 are provided. A projector 350.

(Disc guide)
The disc guide 200 includes a base body 300, a top plate 400 provided on the surface 302 of the base body 300, and an inlet guide member 450. On the surface 302 side of the base body 300, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 10, the first to twelfth turntables 502A supported rotatably around the first to twelfth rotation axes 332A to 332L. ˜502L are arranged. The first to twelfth rotation axes 332 </ b> A to 332 </ b> L are substantially perpendicular to the surface 302 of the base body 300.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the surface 302 of the base body 300 includes a first guide surface portion 222 and a second guide surface portion 224. The first guide surface portion 222 has an inclination angle of about 60 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane, like the holding surface 134 of the rotary disk 106. The second guide surface portion 224 is substantially perpendicular to the horizontal plane and intersects the first guide surface portion 222 at an angle of about 150 degrees. In other words, the first and second guide surface portions 222 and 224 have normals that intersect each other at an angle of about 30 degrees. A first curved surface portion 226 is formed between the first and second guide surface portions 222 and 224. In other words, the first and second guide surface portions 222 and 224 are smoothly connected via the first curved surface portion 226.

  The first and second rotation axes 332A and 332B are arranged on the first axis arrangement line 312 at a predetermined interval d1, and as seen from the side of the base body 300 as shown in FIG. They are arranged so as to intersect at a predetermined angle α (viewed from either one of left and right guide surfaces 212 and 214 described later). In other words, they are arranged so as to intersect at a predetermined angle α when viewed from a direction substantially perpendicular to the extending direction of the disc guide passage 210 and substantially parallel to the surface 302 of the base body 300. Since the first rotation axis 332A is substantially perpendicular to the first guide surface portion 222 and the second rotation axis 332B is substantially perpendicular to the second guide surface portion 224, the angle α is about 30 degrees.

The second to twelfth rotation axes 332B to 332L are substantially parallel to each other. The second, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth and twelfth rotation axes 332B, 332D, 332F, 332H, 332J, and 332L are arranged in a row at a predetermined interval d2 on the first axis arrangement line 312. The third, fifth, seventh, ninth, and eleventh rotation axes 332C, 332E, 332G, 332I, and 332K are arranged in a line at a predetermined interval d2 on the second axis arrangement line 314. In other words, among the second to twelfth rotation axes 332 </ b> B to 332 </ b> L, even numbers are arranged in a line on the first axis arrangement line 312, and odd numbers are arranged in a line on the second axis arrangement line 314. The The first and second axis array lines 312 and 314 are parallel to each other and arranged at a predetermined interval w. The third, fifth, seventh, ninth and eleventh rotation axes 332C, 332E, 332G, 332I, 332K are the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth and twelfth rotation axes 332B, 332D, 332F, 332H, 332J , and 332L are offset by a predetermined distance s. In other words, the second to twelfth rotation axes 332 </ b> B to 332 </ b> L are arranged in a zigzag shape (that is, a zigzag shape) along the extending direction of the disk guide passage 210.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a disc guide groove 406 extending from the inlet 202 toward the outlet 204 is formed on the back surface 404 side of the top plate 400. The disc guide groove 406 has a bottom surface 410 and first and second side surfaces 412, 414, and is fixed to the base body 300 in a state where the back surface 404 is superimposed on the front surface 302 of the base body 300. The width wg of the disk guide groove 406 is set to be slightly larger than the diameter of the maximum diameter disk, and the depth dg (see FIG. 11) is set to be slightly larger than the thickness of the maximum thickness disk. In other words, a plurality of denomination discs D having different diameters and thicknesses can pass through the disc guide groove 406 while being guided by the bottom surface 410 and the first and second side surfaces 412 and 414. The width wg and the depth dg of the disc guide groove 406 are set. In other words, the disc D is set so as to be able to be transported only in a diameter or thickness within a predetermined range.

  The first side surface 412 of the disk guide groove 406 is a curve formed by connecting a plurality of arcs centered on the third, fifth, seventh, ninth and eleventh rotation axes 332C, 332E, 332G, 332I, 332K. It is formed along 418. The second side surface 414 of the disk guide groove 406 has a plurality of arcs centered on the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth and twelfth rotation axes 332B, 332D, 332F, 332H, 332J, 332L. It is formed along a curve 416 that is connected.

  The front surface 402 and the back surface 404 of the top plate 400 are substantially parallel to the front surface 302 of the base body 300 and are curved corresponding to the shape of the front surface 302 of the base body 300. The bottom surface 410 of the disk guide groove 406 has a second curved surface portion 228 that faces the first curved surface portion 226 of the base body 300.

  An annular groove 422 that prevents contact with the top plate 400 when disk pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L, which will be described later, circulate, is formed on the back surface 404 of the top plate 400 in the first to twelfth rotation axes 332A. To 332L. Further, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, on the back surface 404 of the top plate 400, alignment protrusions 432 are formed at positions corresponding to the third to twelfth rotation axes 332 C to 332 L, and the top plate 400 An alignment protrusion 434 is formed at a predetermined position on the periphery. The alignment protrusion 432 is inserted into an alignment hole 342 formed in third to twelfth support shafts 334C to 334L, which will be described later, and the alignment protrusion 434 is located at a predetermined position on the periphery of the surface 302 of the base body 300. Is inserted into the alignment hole 344 formed in the above. Thereby, the top plate 400 can be fixed in a state of being aligned with the base body 300.

  The surface 302 of the base body 300, the bottom surface 410 of the disk guide groove 406 of the top plate 400, and the first and second side surfaces 412 and 414 constitute a disk guide passage 210. In other words, the front surface 302 of the base body 300 functions as the guide surface 218 on the back side of the disc guide passage 210, and the bottom surface 410 of the disc guide groove 406 of the top plate 400 is opposed to the back guide surface 218. The first and second side surfaces 412 and 414 of the disc guide groove 406 of the top plate 400 function as the left and right guide surfaces 212 and 214 of the disc guide passage 210. In the disc guide passage 210, the peripheral surface of the disc D introduced from the inlet 202 is the left and right guide surfaces 212, 214 of the disc guide passage 210 (that is, the first and second side surfaces 412 of the disc guide groove 406). 414). The front and back surfaces of the disk D are guided by the front and back guide surfaces 216 and 218 of the disk guide passage 210 (that is, the bottom surface 410 of the disk guide groove 406 and the surface 302 of the base body 300).

  The inlet guide member 450 forms the inlet 202 of the disk guide passage 210 together with the top plate 400. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the inlet guide member 450 includes a substantially pentagonal attachment portion 452, a protrusion 456 extending from the attachment portion 452 toward the first rotation axis 332 </ b> A, and a support provided on the protrusion 456. And a disc body 454 rotatably supported on the shaft. The disc body 454 is disposed on the back surface side of the protrusion 456 so as to cover the recess 502Aa formed in the central portion of the first rotating disk 502A. The protrusion 456 is disposed with its downward side surface 458 facing the disk delivery port 190 of the disk delivery apparatus 10. The downward side surface 458 of the protrusion 456 has a function of guiding the peripheral surface of the disk D delivered from the disk delivery outlet 190 and smoothly introducing the disk D into the inlet 202 of the disk guide passage 210.

(Disc push mechanism)
As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 and 10, the disk pushing mechanism 500 includes first to twelfth rotary plates 502 </ b> A to 502 </ b> L that rotate around the first to twelfth rotation axes 332 </ b> A to 332 </ b> L. . The first to twelfth rotary disks 502A to 502L are rotatably supported by the first to twelfth support shafts 334A to 334L disposed on the base body 300. The first to twelfth support shafts 334A to 334L have a substantially cylindrical outer shape with the first to twelfth rotation axes 332A to 332L as the central axis, and have substantially the same diameter. The first turntable 502A has an outer shape that is substantially circular in plan view, and a circular recess 502Aa (see FIG. 6) is formed at the center. In other words, the first turntable 502A has an annular peripheral portion that protrudes in a direction parallel to the first rotation axis 332A. The second to twelfth rotary disks 502B to 502L have an outer shape that is substantially circular in plan view.

  The surface of the first turntable 502A has a substantially oval (or oval) planar shape that bends and extends along the outer periphery of the first turntable 502A and is parallel to the first rotation axis 332A. A pair of disk pushers 504A and 506A having a columnar outer shape protruding in the direction is provided. Since the disk pushers 504A and 506A have a function of pushing the disk D toward the major axis direction of a substantially oval shape (or oval shape), the disk pushers 504A and 506A have such a planar shape. Mechanical strength and durability against wear can be increased. The disk pushers 504A and 506A are arranged opposite to each other with the first rotation axis 332A in the periphery of the first rotary board 502A. In other words, the disk pushers 504A and 506A are arranged on the first rotary board 502A. They are arranged symmetrically with respect to one rotation axis 332A. The disk pushers 504A and 506A function as first disk push means that circulates around the first rotation axis 332A as the first turntable 502A rotates.

Similar to the first rotary plate 502A, the surfaces of the second to twelfth rotary plates 502B to 502L have the same planar shape as the disk pushers 504A and 506A, and the second to twelfth rotary axes 332B to 332B. A pair of disk pushers 504B to 504L and 506B to 506L each having a columnar outer shape protruding in a direction parallel to 332L are provided. The disk pushers 504B to 504L and 506B to 506L are arranged to face each other with the second to twelfth rotation axes 332B to 332L sandwiched around the second to twelfth rotation disks 502B to 502L, in other words, disk pusher 504B~504L, 506B~506L are arranged symmetrically to the second to twelfth rotational axis 332B~332L in the second to twelfth rotating disk 502B～502L. Disk pusher 504B~504L, 506B~506L is second to 12 disk pushing orbiting around the second through with the rotation of the 12 rotating disk 502B~502L second to 12 rotational axis 332B~332L Functions as a means.

  The height of the disk pushers 504A, 504B, 506A, 506B functioning as the first and second disk push means (in other words, the protruding length from the surface of the rotating disk) is the third to twelfth disk push means. It is set large with respect to the height of the functioning disk pushers 504C to 504L and 506C to 506L. This is because in order to transport the disk D while changing the traveling angle of the disk D, it is necessary to reliably push the disk D even when the disk D is inclined. The disk pushers 504C to 504L and 506C to 506L have the same height.

  The disk pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L may be formed integrally with the first to twelfth rotary plates 502A to 502L, or those manufactured separately are used to appropriately form the first to twelfth rotary plates. It can also be formed fixed to 502A to 502L. In this embodiment, they are integrally formed from the viewpoint of reducing manufacturing costs. The disk pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L may be columnar bodies, or may be a rotatable roller type in which a support shaft is covered with a cylindrical collar. In the case of the roller type, there is an advantage that the wear of the disk pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L is suppressed and the durability is enhanced.

  As described above, the second to twelfth rotation axes 332B to 332L are alternately arranged in a zigzag manner on the first and second axis arrangement lines 312 and 314. A disk pusher 504B corresponding to the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth and twelfth rotation axes 332B, 332D, 332F, 332H, 332J, 332L disposed on the first axis array line 312; 504D, 504F, 504H, 504J, 504L and 506B, 506D, 506F, 506H, 506J, 506L constitute a first pusher group. Disc pushers 504C, 504E, 504G, and 504I corresponding to the third, fifth, seventh, ninth, and eleventh rotation axes 332C, 332E, 332G, 332I, and 332K disposed on the second axis array line 314, respectively. , 504K and 506C, 506E, 506G, 506I and 506K constitute a second pusher group. The second, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth and twelfth turntables 502B, 502D, 502F, 502H, 502J, and 502L constitute a first turntable group, and the third, fifth, seventh, and third turntables. Ninth and eleventh turntables 502C, 502E, 502G, 502I, and 502K constitute a second turntable group.

Gears 522B to 522L functioning as driven gears for rotationally driving the second to twelfth rotary plates 502B to 502L are coaxially provided on the back surfaces of the second to twelfth rotary plates 502B to 502L. The second to twelfth rotary disks 502B to 502L and the gears 522B to 522L are respectively formed with shaft insertion holes 510 shown in FIG. Corresponding second to twelfth support shafts 334B to 334L are inserted into the shaft insertion holes 510, respectively. The gears 522B to 522L may be formed integrally with the second to twelfth rotary plates 502B to 502L, or separately manufactured and fixed to the second to twelfth rotary plates 502B to 502L by an appropriate method . It can also be formed. It suffices that the second to twelfth rotary disks 502B to 502L and the gears 522B to 522L can rotate integrally. In this embodiment, they are integrally formed from the viewpoint of reducing manufacturing cost and improving coaxial accuracy.

  The gears 522B to 522L are adjacent to each other. That is, the gear 522C meshes with the gears 522B and 522D. Similarly, the gear 522E meshes with the gears 522D and 522F, and the gear 522G meshes with the gears 522F and 522H. The gear 522I meshes with the gears 522H and 522J, and the gear 522K meshes with the gears 522J and 522L. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth and twelfth turntables 502B, 502D, 502F, 502H, 502J, and 502L belonging to the first turntable group are counterclockwise. , And the third, fifth, seventh, ninth and eleventh rotating disks 502C, 502E, 502G, 502I and 502K belonging to the second rotating disk group rotate clockwise. That is, the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth and twelfth rotating disks 502B, 502D, 502F, 502H, 502J and 502L belonging to the first rotating disk group, and the third belonging to the second rotating disk group. The fifth, seventh, ninth and eleventh rotating disks 502C, 502E, 502G, 502I and 502K rotate in directions opposite to each other. Therefore, the disk pushers 504B, 504D, 504F, 504H, 504J, 504L and 506B, 506D, 506F, 506H, 506J, 506L belonging to the first pusher group, and the disk pusher 504C belonging to the second pusher group. , 504E, 504G, 504I, 504K and 506C, 506E, 506G, 506I, 506K circulate in directions opposite to each other.

  In a pair of adjacent ones of the second to twelfth rotary plates 502B to 502L, the disk pushers 504B to 504L and 506B to 506L are arranged so as to maintain a predetermined rotational phase difference. For example, in the adjacent second and third rotating disks 502B and 502C, the disk pushers 504B and 504C and the disk pushers 506B and 506C are arranged so as to maintain a predetermined rotational phase difference. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, when a plane P including the second and third rotation axes 332B and 332C is defined, when the rotating disk pusher 504B reaches the plane P, the rotating disk pusher rotates. Disk pushers 504B and 504C are arranged so that 504C reaches a position in front of the plane P by ½ of the gear pitch. Similarly, when the rotating disk pusher 506B reaches the plane P, the disk pusher 506B so that the rotating disk pusher 506C reaches a position in front of the plane P by 1/2 of the gear pitch. And 506C are arranged. The third turntable 502C and the fourth turntable 502D, the fourth turntable 502D and the fifth turntable 502E, the fifth turntable 502E and the sixth turntable 502F, the sixth turntable 502F and the seventh turntable 502G, the seventh Turntable 502G and eighth turntable 502H, eighth turntable 502H and ninth turntable 502I, ninth turntable 502I and tenth turntable 502J, tenth turntable 502J and eleventh turntable 502K, eleventh turntable The same applies to each of 502K and the twelfth rotating disk 502L.

  As described above, the disk pushers 504B to 504L and 506B to 506L circulate around the corresponding ones of the second to twelfth rotation axes 332B to 332L in synchronism while maintaining a predetermined rotational phase difference. Moreover, among the disk pushers 504B to 504L and 506B to 506L, those having adjacent rotation axes circulate in opposite directions.

A gear 612 having a spur gear portion 622 and a bevel gear portion 626 is coaxially provided on the back surface of the first rotating disk 502A. A gear 614 having a spur gear portion 624 and a bevel gear portion 628 is provided coaxially on the back surface of the gear 522B of the second rotating disk 502B. The two gears 612 and 614 have the same shape, and the bevel gear portions 626 and 628 each have a cone angle of about 30 degrees. In other words, the bevel gear portions 626 and 628 each have a cone angle corresponding to the angle α formed by the first rotation axis 332A and the second rotation axis 332B.

  The bevel gear portion 626 of the gear 612 and the bevel gear portion 628 of the gear 614 mesh with each other. Therefore, the first and second turntables 502A and 502B rotate in directions opposite to each other. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the first turntable 502A rotates clockwise, and the second turntable 502B rotates counterclockwise. Accordingly, the disk pushers 504A and 506A and the disk pushers 504B and 506B circulate in opposite directions. Also in the first and second rotating disks 502A and 502B, the disk pushers 504A and 504B and the disk pushers 506A and 506B are arranged so as to maintain a predetermined rotational phase difference. As described above, the disk pushers 504A and 504B and the disk pushers 506A and 506B circulate around the first and second rotation axes 332A and 332B in synchronism with each other while maintaining a predetermined rotational phase difference. .

  As described above, the bevel gear portions 626 and 628 have a cone angle corresponding to the angle α formed by the first rotation axis 332A and the second rotation axis 332B. Therefore, the first and second rotating discs 502A are formed in a state where the angle α formed by the first and second rotation axes 332A and 332B is formed while the first and second gears 612 and 614 are simply engaged. , 502B can be rotationally driven.

  The spur gear portion 622 and the bevel gear portion 626 may be formed integrally, or may be formed separately and fixed to each other by an appropriate method. In this embodiment, they are integrally formed from the viewpoint of reducing manufacturing cost and improving coaxial accuracy. The same applies to the spur gear portion 624 and the bevel gear portion 628. The gear 612 can be formed integrally with the rotating disk 502A, and the gear 614 can be formed integrally with the gear 522B. When formed integrally, it is advantageous to reduce the manufacturing cost and increase the coaxial accuracy. In this embodiment, it is formed integrally. However, it is formed integrally by fixing them separately by an appropriate method. Of course, it is also possible. The first and second rotating disks 502A and 502B and the gears 612 and 614 may be configured in any manner as long as they can rotate together.

(Driving force transmission mechanism)
As shown in FIG. 12, the driving force transmission mechanism 600 is provided coaxially with the gear 602 disposed on the back side of the rotating disk 106 of the disk delivery device 10, the gear 604 that meshes with the gear 602, and the gear 604. a gear 610 that the limiter 611 is mounted, the gear 606 meshing with the gear 6 10, and a gear 608 which is provided with gear 606 coaxially. The gear 602 is fixed to the rotating disk 106, and the gear 608 meshes with the spur gear portion 622 of the gear 612.

  When the rotating disk 106 is rotated by the driving means 108 of the disk delivery device 10, the gear 602 rotates integrally with the rotating disk 106, and the rotational driving force is transmitted to the gear 612 via the gears 604, 610, 606 and 608. Is done. The gear 612 to which the rotational driving force is transmitted rotates, and the rotational driving force is transmitted to the gears 522B to 522L via the gear 614. As a result, all of the gears 612 and 614 and the gears 522B to 522L rotate, and all of the first to twelfth rotary disks 502A to 502L rotate.

  The driving force transmission mechanism 600 is configured such that the rotating disk 106 of the disk delivery device 10 and the first rotating disk 502A of the disk transport device 20 have a predetermined rotational speed difference. That is, the rotational speeds of the rotating disk 106 and the first rotating disk 502A are set so that the first rotating disk 502A rotates 180 degrees every time the rotating disk 106 rotates 45 degrees. By setting the rotational speed in this way, when each of the eight pushing edges 138 of the rotating disk 106 cooperates with the disk receiving means 112 to send out the disk D, the disk pushers 504A and 506A It moves to the optimum position for pushing each of the fed disks D. In other words, all of the disks D sent out by the eight pushing edges 138 of the rotating disk 106 can be reliably pushed by either one of the disk pushers 504A and 506A.

  Note that when the overload prevention function of the driving means 108 is activated and the rotating disk 106 is reversely rotated, the first to twelfth rotary disks 502A to 502L are also reversely rotated. When the first to twelfth rotary discs 502A to 502L are rotated in the reverse direction, the disc D in the disc guide passage 210 is pushed in the reverse direction by the disc pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L. Then, the pushed disk D is conveyed from the outlet 204 toward the inlet 202, and a part of the disks D is returned onto the rotating disk 106 via the disk delivery port 190. Also in this case, the optimum positional relationship between the above-described rotating disk 106 and the first rotating disk 502A is maintained, so that the disk D in the disk guide passage 210 is smoothly moved onto the rotating disk 106.

  A rotation shaft (not shown) of the gear 604 is connected and fixed to a central shaft (not shown) that is an input shaft of the torque limiter 111, and an outer peripheral surface 611b that is an output shaft of the torque limiter 611 is connected to the outer periphery 611b. A fitting hole (not shown) is fitted and fixed. As a result, when an excessive torque greater than or equal to a predetermined value is applied to the gear 604, the torque is interrupted and the gear 604 idles. In other words, when an excessive rotational resistance of a predetermined value or more is applied to the first to twelfth rotary plates 502A to 502L due to the occurrence of biting of the disc D in the disc transport device 20, the torque limiter 111 is applied. The rotational force is released between the input shaft and the output shaft so that the first to twelfth rotary disks 502A to 502L are not forcibly rotated. Accordingly, since an excessive load is not applied to the related parts, there is an advantage that damage to the parts is prevented and durability is improved. Further, since an excessive load is not applied, the required component strength is small, and there is an advantage that the component can be downsized and the entire apparatus can be downsized.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 12, a rotation monitoring sensor 650 for monitoring the rotation state of the first to twelfth rotary disks 502 </ b> A to 502 </ b> L is provided on the rotation shaft (not shown) of the gear 606. The rotation monitoring sensor 650 includes an encoder disk 652 fixed to the lower end of the rotation shaft of the gear 606 and a transmission type photoelectric sensor 654. The encoder disc 652 is formed with a plurality of through holes (not shown) arranged at equal intervals along the periphery. The photoelectric sensor 654 includes a light projector (not shown) that emits light toward the through hole of the encoder disk 652 and a light receiver (not shown) that receives the light from the light projector and generates an electrical signal. Is done. When the first to twelfth turntables 502A to 502L rotate, the rotation monitoring sensor 650 outputs a pulse signal synchronized with the rotation angle. In other words, the rotation monitoring sensor 650 functions as a sensor that monitors the circulation state of the disk pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L. By monitoring the state of this pulse signal, the operating state of the torque limiter 611 can be detected. That is, when the torque limiter 611 is inactive, a pulse signal having a predetermined cycle is output from the rotation monitoring sensor 650, and when the torque limiter 611 is in an operating state, a pulse signal having a cycle longer than the predetermined cycle is output from the rotation monitoring sensor. Since the output is 650, the non-operation / operation state of the torque limiter 611 can be detected by measuring the period of the pulse signal. When the torque limiter 611 is activated, the electric motor 152 is stopped and the rotation of the rotary disk 106 is stopped. As a result, the delivery of the disk D from the disk delivery apparatus 10 is stopped, and the disk D is prevented from continuing to be supplied to the disk transport apparatus 20 in which the disk D is bitten, so that it is unnecessary for related parts. The load can be prevented and the durability is improved.

  As the torque limiter 111, for example, a known one such as a torque limiter having a steel ball and a concave groove disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-263364 can be used, and in particular, a pair facing each other across the rotation axis. Those having a concave groove are preferred. In that case, since the non-operating state of the torque limiter 111 (that is, the state in which the steel ball is locked in the concave groove) is generated at a rotation angle of 180 degrees, the rotating disk 106 and the disk transport device of the disk delivery device 10 The rotational phase difference from the first 20 rotary plates 502A is maintained.

(Disc ejecting means)
The disc ejection means 230 has a function of ejecting the disc D from the outlet 204, and is elastically applied to the frame 231 for mounting components and the peripheral surface of the disc D as shown in FIGS. The flip roller 232 that contacts the rotary roller 233 that rotatably supports the flip roller 232 and rotates around a support shaft (not shown), and the flip roller 232 near the outlet 204 is a disc guide passage 210. A string-wound spring 234 that urges the rotating lever 233 toward the disc guide passage 210, and a stopper 235 for receiving and holding the rotating lever 233 at a stationary position where the flip roller 232 faces the disc guide passage 210. It consists of and. The frame 231 is provided with a downward E-shaped stopper 237 bent at a right angle to the surface thereof, and a locking pin 238 (see FIG. 7) is provided on the upper part of the rotating lever 233. One end of the string winding spring 234 is hooked in the groove of the stopper metal 237, and the other end is hooked on the locking pin 238. The flip roller 232 is positioned in the disc guide passage 210 through an arc-shaped flip roller slot 236 formed in the top plate 400. The disc ejection means 230 is attached by fixing the frame 231 to the base body 300 with screws (not shown) that penetrate the top plate 400.

(Disc payout detection sensor)
The disc payout detection sensor 240 is disposed so as to straddle the disc guide passage 210 immediately before the exit 204 and has a function of detecting the disc D discharged from the exit 204. The disc payout detection sensor 240 has a channel-shaped resin-made outer case 242 and has a light projector built in one of two columnar portions (not shown) and a light receiver built in the other, and is opposed to each other. It is a photoelectric sensor. When the disk D bounced by the flip roller 232 of the disk ejection means 230 passes between the two columnar portions, the optical path is blocked, and the disks D are detected one by one based on the detection signal output based on the light path.

(Sender)
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, the base body 300 is provided with nine projectors 350a to 350i arranged corresponding to the fourth to twelfth rotation axes 332D to 332L. In other words, the projectors 350a to 350i are provided corresponding to the fourth to twelfth rotary plates 502D to 502L. The projectors 350a, 350c, 350e, 350g, and 350i are provided on the right outer sides of the corresponding fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth, and twelfth rotary plates 502D, 502F, 502H, 502J, and 502L . The sixth, eighth, tenth, and twelfth rotation axes 332D, 332F, 332H, 332J, and 332L are arranged below, and arranged in a row in parallel and adjacent to the second axis arrangement line 314. The projectors 350b, 350d, 350f, and 350h are associated with the corresponding fifth, seventh, ninth, and ninth, respectively, on the left outer side of the corresponding fifth, seventh, ninth, and eleventh turntables 502E, 502G, 502I, and 502K . 11 rotation axis lines 332E, 332G, 332I, and 332K are arranged below and arranged in a row in parallel and adjacent to the first axis arrangement line 312. Accordingly, the projectors 350 a to 350 i are arranged in a zigzag shape on the surface 302 of the base body 300.

  As shown in FIG. 11, each of the projectors 350 a to 350 i includes an opening 352 formed in the surface 302 of the base body 300 and a light source 354 disposed in the base body 300 corresponding to each of the openings 352. Is done. Each opening 352 has a cylindrical shape having a central axis substantially parallel to the fourth to twelfth rotation axes 332D to 332L. As shown in FIG. 10, the left guide surface 212 and the right guide of the disc guide passage 210 are provided. It is arranged between the surface 214 and faces the bottom surface 410 of the disk guide groove 406 of the top plate 400 (in other words, the front guide surface 216 of the disk guide passage 210).

  As shown in FIG. 11, each light source 354 is disposed in a space 364 formed by the partition 362 of the base body 300, and is electrically connected to a wiring pattern 356 formed on a second member 308 (described later) of the base body 300. It is connected. Electric power necessary for light emission is supplied to each light source 354 through the wiring pattern 356. As the light source 354, for example, a light emitting diode or a laser diode is used. It is preferable to provide a condensing lens for improving directivity at the tip of the light source 354. The light emission color of the light source 354 may be the same in all the projectors 350a to 350i, or some or all of the light sources 354 of the projectors 350a to 350i may have different emission colors. For example, the light emission color of the light source 354 in the projectors 350b, 350d, 350f, and 350h adjacent to the first axis array line is set to the first light emission color (for example, red), and the projector 350a adjacent to the second axis array line 314 is used. , 350c, 350e, 350g, 350i, the light emission color of the light source 354 is the second light emission color (for example, blue). Thereby, decorativeness can be improved.

  Each light source 354 is opposed to a corresponding opening 352. Therefore, the light emitted from the light source 354 is projected toward the top plate 400 through the corresponding opening 352. In other words, the projection light of the light source 354 passes through the disk guide passage 210 and reaches the bottom surface 410 of the disk guide groove 406 of the top plate 400. Therefore, if the top plate 400 is formed of a light-transmitting material, the light projected from the light source 354 can be viewed from the front side of the disk transport device 20. Moreover, when the disk D moving in the disk guide passage 210 is opposed to the opening 352 (in other words, the projectors 350a to 350i), the projection light of the light source 354 is blocked by the disk D. Since the disks D are pushed and conveyed one by one, the interruption of the projection light by the disks D becomes intermittent, and the projection light blinks on the top plate 400. Therefore, a new visual effect with high decorativeness is generated as the disk D is conveyed. In addition, since electrical control for blinking the light source 354 is not required, it can be realized easily and inexpensively.

  In addition, as a material which has a light transmittance, transparent or translucent thermoplastic resins, such as an acrylic resin, are used, for example. Further, it is preferable to form fine irregularities on at least a portion corresponding to the disc guide path 210 on the front surface 402 or the back surface 404 of the top plate 400. This is because the light projected from the light source 354 is irregularly reflected by the fine irregularities and a blurring effect is obtained. Further, the shape of the opening 352 in plan view can be any shape other than a circle. For example, the visual effect can be further enhanced by adopting a planar shape such as a star shape or a heart shape.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the base body 300 has a structure in which a first member 306 is stacked on a second member 308, and a through hole 315 is formed in the first member 306. The through hole 315 has a planar shape in which eleven circular holes having the same inner dimension are connected in a zigzag manner with a part thereof being overlapped, and as shown in FIG. It has the 1st opening 315a with a small internal dimension arrange | positioned at the surface side, and the 2nd opening 315b with a large internal dimension arrange | positioned at the back surface side. The back surface side of the through hole 315 is closed by the second member 308, and a recess 316 is formed in the base body 300.

  On the surface 302 side of the base body 300, the second to twelfth rotary disks 502B to 502L are accommodated in the first opening 315a, and the gears 522B to 522L are accommodated in the second opening 315b. In other words, the second to twelfth rotary disks 502B to 502L and the gears 522B to 522L are housed in the recess 316. The bottom surface 318 of the recess 316 is provided with third to twelfth support shafts 334C to 334L. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 11, the third to twelfth support shafts 334 </ b> C to 334 </ b> L are fixed by a fixing screw 310 inserted into the screw hole 340 from the back surface 304 side of the base body 300 through the second member 308. It is fixed to the base body 300.

  The surfaces of the first to twelfth turntables 502 </ b> A to 502 </ b> L are disposed so as to be substantially flush with the surface 302 of the base body 300. Therefore, the disk pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L provided on the respective surfaces of the first to twelfth rotary disks 502A to 502L protrude above the surface 302 of the base body 300. In other words, the disk pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L protrude into the disk guide passage 210, respectively.

  The disk pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L protruding into the disk guide passage 210 circulate with the rotation of the first to twelfth rotary plates 502A to 502L to push the disk D in the disk guide passage 210. . The pushed disk D is moved in the disk guide passage 210 while the circumferential surface is guided by the left and right guide surfaces 212 and 214 and the front and back surfaces are guided by the front and back guide surfaces 216 and 218. In this case, the range of the diameter or thickness of the disc D that can be transported is widened. That is, since the disk pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L protruding into the disk guide passage 210 are disposed between the left and right guide surfaces 212 and 214, the left and right guide surfaces 212 and 214 and the disk pushers 504A to 504L. , Larger than the interval between 506A to 506L (in other words, larger than the interval generated between the left and right guide surfaces 212, 214 and the circular trajectory of the disk pushers 504A to 504L, 506A to 506L), If the disk D has a diameter smaller than the distance between the left and right guide surfaces 212 and 214, it is supported by one of the left and right guide surfaces 212 and 214 and the disk pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L. It can be moved while being moved. Accordingly, the diameter range of the disc D that can be transported is widened. On the other hand, since the disks D are pushed one by one by the disk pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L, the adjacent disks D do not overlap in the disk guide path 210. Therefore, even if the distance between the front and back guide surfaces 216 and 218 is set wide, the disk is not jammed. Therefore, the thickness range of the disk D that can be transported is widened.

(Operation of the disk dispensing device)
Next, the operation of the disc dispensing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the actual operation, a large number of disks D are held to the extent that they are piled up in the holding bowl 102. Here, in order to simplify the description, it is assumed that four disks D1 to D4 are held in the holding bowl 102. .

  FIG. 13 shows a state in which the disks D1 to D4 are transported by the rotating disk 106 of the disk delivery device 10, and the disk D1 is placed on the four holding surfaces 134 of the eight holding surfaces 134 of the rotating disk 106. To D4 (D4 not shown) are held. Each of the disks D1 to D4 is moved by being pushed by the disk locking body 128 of the rotating disk 106 that rotates counterclockwise, and the disk D1 approaches the receiving edge 146 of the disk receiving means 112.

  When the rotating disk 106 further rotates, as shown in FIG. 14, the disk D1 is pushed by the disk locking body 128 in contact with the receiving edge 146 of the disk receiving means 112, and is moved in the circumferential direction of the rotating disk 106. The Then, in a state where the disk D1 is pushed out of the rotating disk 106, the disk D1 is stopped at the delivery position supported by the tip of the disk locking body 128 and the peripheral wall 184. When the disk pusher 504A rotating in the clockwise direction comes into contact with the peripheral surface of the disk D1 at the delivery position, the disk D1 is pushed by the disk pusher 504A.

  As the first rotating plate 502A rotates, the disk D1 is pushed by the disk pusher 504A and the circumferential surface of the disk D1 is pushed against the circumferential wall 184, as shown in FIG. The disk D1 is guided by the peripheral wall 184 and the left guide surface 212 of the disk guide passage 210 and moved upward, and is introduced into the disk guide passage 210 through the inlet 202. Further, the next disk D 2 pushed by the disk locking body 128 of the rotating disk 106 contacts the receiving edge 146 of the disk receiving means 112.

  When the first turntable 502A further rotates, the disc D1 is continuously pushed by the disc pusher 504A, and the circumferential surface of the disc D1 is pressed against the right guide surface 214 of the disc guide passage 210 as shown in FIG. It is moved upwards. At this time, the disk pusher 504B approaches the disk D1 by the counterclockwise rotation of the second rotating disk 502B. Similarly to the case of the disk D1, the disk D2 pushed out of the rotating disk 106 by the disk locking body 128 and the receiving edge 146 of the disk receiving means 112 is pushed by the disk pushing body 506A, and the peripheral wall 184 is pushed. The peripheral surface is guided to move upward. The next disk D 3 pushed by the disk locking body 128 of the rotating disk 106 approaches the receiving edge 146 of the disk receiving means 112.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 17, the disk pusher 504B comes into contact with the disk D1 to push the disk D1, and the disk D1 is moved upward while being guided by the right guide surface 214 of the disk guide passage 210. The disk D2 pushed by the disk pusher 506A is introduced into the disk guide passage 210 through the inlet 202. The disk D3 is pushed by the disk locking body 128 in contact with the receiving edge 146 of the disk receiving means 112 and moved in the circumferential direction of the rotating disk 106.

  In the movement of the disc D1 from FIG. 15 to FIG. 17, the disc D1 is moved from the first guide surface portion 222 of the back guide surface 218 to the second guide surface portion 224, and the traveling angle of the disc D1 is relative to the horizontal plane. It changes from about 60 degrees to about 90 degrees. At this time, the disk D1 is guided by the first curved surface portion 226 formed between the first and second guide surface portions 222 and 224 and the second curved surface portion 228 arranged to face the first curved surface portion 226. Changes gradually, the disk D1 is smoothly moved in the disk guide passage 210.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 18, the disk D1 pushed by the disk pusher 504B is moved upward while being guided by the left guide surface 212 of the disk guide passage 210. The disk pusher 504C that circulates as the third rotating disk 502C rotates in the clockwise direction approaches the disk D1. The disc D2 pushed by the disc pusher 506A is moved upward while gradually changing the advancing angle by being guided by the first and second curved surface portions 226 and 228 as in the case of the disc D1. . The disk D3 pushed out of the rotating disk 106 is pushed by the disk pusher 504A. The next disk D 4 pushed by the disk locking body 128 of the rotating disk 106 approaches the receiving edge 146 of the disk receiving means 112.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 19, the disk D1 is moved upward by the push of the disk pusher 504C, the disk D2 is moved upward by the push of the disk pusher 506B, and the disk D3 is moved from the disk pusher 504A. It is moved upward by pushing. The disk D3 is pushed by the disk locking body 128 in contact with the receiving edge 146 of the disk receiving means 112 and moved in the circumferential direction of the rotating disk 106.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 20, the disk D1 is moved upward by the push of the disk pusher 504E, and the disk D2 is moved upward by the push of the disk pusher 506C. The disk D3 is moved upward by the push of the disk pusher 504B, and the disk D4 is moved upward by the push of the disk pusher 506A.

  The state shown in FIG. 21 is caused by repeating the operation of the disk pushing mechanism 500 described above. When the twelfth rotary disk 502L further rotates counterclockwise from this state, the disk D1 pushed by the disk pusher 504L is guided to the right guide surface 214 of the disk guide passage 210 as shown in FIG. The position of the disc ejection means 230 is reached. When the disc D1 is further pushed by the disc pusher 504L, the disc D1 contacting the flip roller 232 pushes up the rotating lever 233 of the disc ejection means 230 against the urging force of the string spring 234, and exits to the outlet 204. Move towards. When the maximum diameter portion of the disk D1 passes the flip roller 232, the rotating lever 233 returns downward due to the elasticity of the string spring 234, and the disk D1 is flipped toward the outlet 204 by the rotational force at that time. It is. As shown in FIG. 23, the disc D1 is detected by the disc dispensing detection sensor 240 immediately after being flipped off, and then released from the outlet 204. Thereafter, the same operation is repeated for the disks D2 to D4, whereby the disks D2 to D4 are discharged from the outlet 204.

  In the process from FIG. 19 to FIG. 20, the disk D1 moves in the disk guide passage 210 while blocking the projection light from the projectors 350a and 350b. Further, the disk D2 moves in the disk guide path 210 while blocking the projection light from the projector 350a. Similarly, in the process from FIG. 20 to FIG. 22, the disks D1 to D4 move in the disk guide passage 210 while blocking the projection light from the projectors 350a to 350i. Thereby, the projectors 350a-350i blink.

(Modification)
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, A various change is possible. For example, the projectors 350a to 350i are provided corresponding to the fourth to twelfth rotary plates 502D to 502L, but the number and arrangement of the projectors 350a to 350i can be changed as appropriate. Further, a through hole may be formed in an appropriate one of the first to twelfth rotary plates 502A to 502L, and the projection light of the light projector 350 may be directed to the top plate 400 through the through hole. In this case, since the projection light is blocked with the rotation of the first to twelfth turntables 502A to 502L, a visual effect different from the above embodiment can be obtained.

  Furthermore, although each of the projectors 350a to 350i has the light source 354, a surface light emitter or a line light emitter may be used as the light source 354 so as to be used in common for a part or all of the projectors 350a to 350i. In this case, the number of light sources 354 can be reduced.

  The base body 300 may be configured by integrally forming the first and second members 306 and 308, or the base body 300 and the top plate 400 may be integrally formed.

  The present invention can be used for a disk processing apparatus that processes disks such as coins and medals, and is particularly suitable for application to a game machine or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Disc delivery apparatus 10 Disc delivery apparatus 20 Disc conveyance apparatus 102 Reserving bowl 102A Head part 102B Disc insertion slot 102C Exterior part 104 Mounting base 104A Mounting base part 104B First attachment part 104C Second attachment part 104L, 104R Support side wall 104U Upward upper surface 106 Rotating disk 108 Driving means 111 Torque limiter 112 Receiving means 118 Disk dropping means 122 Bottom wall 124 Vertical groove 126 Vertical wall 128 Disk locking body 132 Central protrusion 133 Stirring protrusion 134 Holding surface 136 Supporting shelf 138 Pushing edge 142 Riding slope 144 Downstream edge 145 Disc receiving body 146 Receiving edge 147 Top portion 149 Stepped slope 152 Electric motor 154 Reducer 174 Free support means 184 Perimeter wall 190 Disc delivery port 200 Disc guide portion 202 Inlet 204 Exit 210 Disc guide passages 212, 214 Left and right guide surfaces 216, 218 Front and back guide surfaces 222 First guide surface portion 224 Second guide surface portion 226 First curved surface portion 228 Second curved surface portion 230 Disc discharge means 231 Frame 232 Playing roller 233 Rotating lever 234 String winding spring 235 Stopper 237 Locking bracket 238 Locking pin 240 Disc payout detection sensor 242 Exterior case 300 Base body (base portion)
302 Front surface 304 Back surface 306 First member 308 Second member 310 Fixing screw 312 First shaft array line 314 Second shaft array line 315 Through hole 315a First opening 315b Second opening 316 Recess 318 Bottom surface 332A to 332L First to third Twelfth rotation axis lines 334A to 334L first to twelfth support shafts 340 screw holes 342 and 344 alignment holes 350a to 350i projector 352 opening 354 light source 356 wiring pattern 362 partition wall 364 space 400 top plate (top portion)
402 Front surface 404 Back surface 406 Disc guide groove 410 Bottom surface 412 First side surface 414 Second side surface 416, 418 Curve 422 Groove 432, 434 Positioning projection 450 Entrance guide member 452 Mounting portion 454 Disc body 456 Protruding portion 458 Downward side surface 500 Disc pushing mechanism 502A to 502L First to twelfth turntable 502Aa Recess 504A to 504L, 506A to 506L Disc pushing member 510 Shaft insertion hole 522A to 522L Gear 600 Driving force transmission mechanism 602, 604, 606, 608, 610 Gear 611 Torque limiter 611b Outer peripheral surface 612, 614 Gear 622, 624 Spur gear portion 626, 628 Bevel gear portion 650 Rotation monitoring sensor 652 Encoder disc 654 Photoelectric sensor D, D1-D4 Disc

Claims (1)

A disk transport device that receives a disk sent one by one at the entrance and transports it to the exit,
A base portion forming a back guide surface for guiding one of the front and back surfaces of the disk;
A top portion that forms a front guide surface that guides the other of the front and back surfaces of the disk relative to the back guide surface;
A disc guide passage formed by left and right guide surfaces for guiding the peripheral surface of the disc and the front and back guide surfaces, and extending from the inlet toward the outlet;
A plurality of turntables arranged in a predetermined order from the entrance toward the exit and rotating about a rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the front and back guide surfaces;
A disk pusher that projects into the disk guide passage and that is provided on each of the plurality of turntables and pushes the disk by circling around the corresponding rotation axis; and
A projector that is disposed on the base portion and projects light toward the top portion;
A disk transport device comprising: