JP2742755B2 - Medal selector for medal gaming machines - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a slot machine for continuously playing medals as gaming media for playing a game, and more particularly to a predetermined maximum number of inserted games and a maximum number of stored credits. The present invention relates to a medal selector configured to prevent insertion of medals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a slot machine of this kind, if a player tries to insert medals exceeding a predetermined maximum number of insertions per game and a maximum number of credits stored, the number of insertions exceeds the maximum number of medals inserted. The returned medals were returned by changing the flow route by the medal selector.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the above-mentioned conventional medal selector. FIG. 5 is a front view of the medal selector 200 as viewed from inside the gaming machine. This medal selector
Reference numeral 200 denotes a medal M which flows down from a medal slot 210 provided on the front panel of the gaming machine to a medal tank (not shown) provided inside the gaming machine via a gutter member 220. In the middle of the process, when the medal M is smaller than the prescribed diameter, the medal selecting device 240 for selecting the different-diameter medals and discharging the medals to the outside of the gaming machine, and detecting the passing of the medals M and counting the number of inserted medals In addition to providing a count sensor 250, the medal count sensor 250 counts a predetermined maximum number of coins and a maximum number of credits stored per game on a medal flow path 260 between the medal selection device 240 and the medal count sensor 250. In this case, the medal blocker 270 evacuates from the medal flow path 260 and discharges the medals M flowing down the medal flow path 260 out of the gaming machine.
Are provided.

A method of changing the flow of medals by the medal selector 200 will be described. The medal M inserted from the medal insertion slot 210 flows down the gutter member 220 toward the medal tank. If the medals do not match the preset specified value, for example, medals smaller than the specified diameter are returned to the medal tray (not shown) provided at the lower part of the front panel of the gaming machine by the medal selection device 240.

On the other hand, a regular medal M flows down the medal flow path 260 in the gutter member 220 and is taken into the medal tank. The number of medals taken into the medal tank is counted by the medal count sensor 250. When the medal count sensor 250 detects a predetermined maximum number of insertions per game and a maximum number of credits stored, for example, 50 medals, a medal blocker
By operating 270, the medals flowing down the medal flow path 260 are returned to the medal tray provided at the lower part of the front panel of the gaming machine.

[0006]

However, in the conventional medal selector 200 described above, the medal count sensor 2
After detecting the predetermined maximum number of insertions per game and the maximum number of credits stored, for example, 50 medals, the medal blocker 270 is activated. That is, a slight time lag occurs between the time when the medal count sensor 250 counts the specified number of medals and the time when the medal blocker 270 is activated.

Therefore, the conventional medal selector 200
Then, when medals are inserted in a continuous state, when switching from the acceptance state in which the medals flow down to the medal tank to the return state in which the medals are discharged out of the gaming machine,
Before the medal blocker 270 operates, the number of medals exceeding the specified number, for example,
There is a possibility that a so-called swallowing phenomenon may occur, in which medals that pass through 0 and are not counted are taken into the gaming machine.

[0008] Further, it is necessary to install other devices in the vicinity of the position where the medal selector 200 is installed in the gaming machine, and it is necessary to install the medal selector 200 in a complicated structure to prevent a so-called swallowing phenomenon. Difficult. Therefore, even when medals are inserted in a continuous state, a so-called swallowing phenomenon, in which more than a prescribed number of medals are taken into the gaming machine, can be reliably prevented, and a compact and space-saving medal. The development of a selector was desired.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is to achieve the above-mentioned object, and its contents will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. The invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that the medal flowing-down member (30) includes a medal counting device (8) for counting medals flowing down the medal flowing-down member (30).
0) and the inserted medal counting device (80) inside,
A medal downflow prevention device (90) that operates when the inserted medal counting device (80) counts a predetermined number of medals, and temporarily prevents the flow of the inserted medals,
It is provided between the medal insertion slot (20) and the medal selection device (100).

[0010]

According to the invention, medals inserted from the medal insertion slot (20) are first counted by the inserted medal counting device (80). And
A medal exceeding a predetermined maximum number of inputs and a maximum number of credits stored per game, for example, a prescribed medal number of 50
In the case of the number of medals, when the 51st medal is detected, the medal downflow prevention device (90) is operated to temporarily block the flow of the 51st medal. Then, for an appropriate time, for example, 400
After 1000 msec elapses, the medal blocker (1
Activate 30) to remove the medal from the medal flow-down member (30).

In the medal selection device (150), when a medal that does not match a preset specified value flows down, the medal is excluded from the medal flow path (50). Specifically, for example, discharge to a medal tray provided on the front panel of the gaming machine,
Also, the flow of medals thicker than the specified value is stopped.
The medal counting device (80) counts the number of medals taken into a medal storage unit in the gaming machine, for example, a medal payout device. Then, when the predetermined maximum number of insertions per game and the maximum number of stored credits, for example, the 50th medal, is detected, the medal blocker (130) is operated to switch the medal flow path, and thereafter flow down. The incoming medals are discharged to a medal tray provided on the front panel of the gaming machine.

In other words, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when a predetermined maximum number of medals per game and a maximum number of stored credits are loaded into the gaming machine, the medal blocker (130) is activated, The above-mentioned medals are prevented from being taken into the gaming machine, but the medals of a specified number or more are temporarily prevented from flowing down by the medal flow prevention device (90).

Therefore, even if the medals are inserted in a continuous state, a predetermined number of medals, for example, the 51st medal, do not flow continuously to the specified number of medals, for example, the 50th medal. . That is, a medal blocker
While the (130) is operated to switch from the acceptance state in which the medals flow down to the medal storage unit to the return state in which the medals are discharged out of the gaming machine, the medal flow prevention device (90) causes the medals to flow down the medal flow path (90). Since the medal blocker (130) does not flow down, the medal blocker (130) operates reliably. For this reason, medals that are not counted are taken into the gaming machine,
No so-called swallowing phenomenon occurs.

Further, a medal insertion device (80),
Since the medal falling prevention device (90) is provided integrally, it is possible to provide a compact medal selector (10) that does not buffer other devices and the like provided in the gaming machine, and to save space.

[0015]

1 to 4 show one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a medal selector viewed from the inside of a gaming machine, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a medal downflow prevention device, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the medal falling prevention device, and FIG. 4 is a front view of another embodiment of the medal falling prevention device.

In the embodiment described below, the number of medals having a predetermined maximum number of insertions per game and a maximum number of credits stored per game is assumed to be 50. A medal selector 10 according to the present invention is a medal payout device (not shown) which is a medal storage unit provided inside a gaming machine via a gutter-shaped medal flow-down member 30 from a medal insertion port 20 provided on a front panel of the gaming machine. The medal M is caused to flow down.

The above-mentioned medal flow-down member 30 has a width slightly larger than the thickness of the medal M, and the medal M flows down while rolling inside. The medal flow-down member 30 is provided with a medal inlet 60 at the upper end side of the medal flow-down path 50 so as to communicate with the medal insertion port 20. At the lower end side, a medal flow path (not shown) toward the medal payout device is provided. A medal outlet 70 is provided for communication. In addition, the medal flow-down member 30 moves the medal flow path 50 from the medal entrance 60 toward the medal exit 70.
Is attached to the gaming machine so that the upper side of the medal flow-down member 30 is located inside the gaming machine relative to the lower side. That is, the medals M flowing from the medal inlet 60 roll down toward the medal outlet 70 with the upper part inclined toward the inside of the gaming machine, and flow down from the medal outlet 70 toward the medal payout device.

The medal flow-down member 30 is provided with
And a medal counting device 80 that detects the medals M that have passed through the medal inlet 60 and counts the number of medals inserted between the medals and the medal outlet 70 along the flow direction.
A medal downflow prevention device 90 having the inserted medal counting device 80 therein for preventing the flow of medals flowing down from the medal inlet 60, and a medal when the medal does not match a preset specified value. Medal selection device 100 for selecting and eliminating medals outside the gaming machine, a medal discharge port 110 for returning medals outside the machine, and a medal medal counting device 12 for counting the number of medals taken into the medal payout device.
0 is arranged.

The medal falling prevention device 90 has a cylindrical solenoid 91 that protrudes and disappears in the medal flowing path 50 of the medal flowing member 30, and is located in the center of the cylinder of the solenoid 91 so that the solenoid 91 can slide. It consists of a supporting iron core 92. The medal falling prevention device 90 is always provided with a biasing member 13 made of a spring.
By the biasing of 3, the distal end of the solenoid 91 is positioned to retreat from inside the medal falling member 30 (solid line in FIG. 2).
In this state, the medals M can freely flow down the medal flow path 50 of the medal flow member 30.

Further, the medal falling prevention device 90 is provided with an inserted medal counting device 80 on the tip end surface of the iron core 92. The inserted medal counting device 80 is configured by vertically arranging two proximity sensors, detects a medal M passing through the medal inlet 60, and counts the number of inserted medals. When the inserted medal counting device 80 detects a medal M (the 51st medal) that is equal to or greater than the predetermined maximum number of inserted coins per game and the maximum number of credits that can be stored, the medal downflow prevention device 90 sets the solenoid to a solenoid. Energize 91 and spring 93
The tip of the solenoid 91 against the bias of
The medal M is prevented from flowing down by pressing the 51st medal M flowing down the medal flowing path 50 of the medal flowing member 30 with the tip of the solenoid 91 at the tip of the solenoid 91 (broken line in FIG. 2).

Thereafter, the medal M is used in the game, and the number of medals taken in the gaming machine is smaller than a predetermined maximum number of insertions and a maximum number of credits per game (5).
If less than 0), the solenoid 91 of the medal falling prevention device 90 is demagnetized. When solenoid 91 is demagnetized,
The solenoid 91 is pulled toward the outside of the medal flow-down member 30 by the bias of the spring 93, and the tip of the solenoid 91 retreats from the inside of the medal flow-down member 30 so that the medal M flows through the medal flow-down path 50 of the medal flow-down member 30. Return to free flowing state.

The medal selection device 100 is a device for selecting a medal and excluding the medal from the gaming machine when the medal does not match a predetermined value. For example, the medal diameter becomes a predetermined value. If the medal does not reach, the medal is discharged out of the gaming machine, and if the thickness of the medal exceeds a specified value, the medal is separated by stopping the medal from flowing, and the medal flowing member 30 A sorting opening is provided on the side located inside the gaming machine.

This sorting opening is substantially rectangular,
The lower side 101 is located slightly above the bottom surface of the medal flowing path 50 of the medal flowing member 30, and the upper side 102 is located slightly below the height (diameter) of the regular medals M flowing down the medal flowing path 50. By adjusting the position of this upper side 102,
The diameter of the medals M to be sorted can be adjusted. That is, the closer the position of the upper side 102 is to the bottom surface of the medal flow-down path 50, the smaller the diameter of the selected medals M can be.

As described above, the medal flow-down member 30 is attached to the gaming machine at an angle so that the upper side of the medal flow-down member 30 is located inside the gaming machine relative to the lower side. Therefore, the regular medals M flowing down the medal flow-down path 50 of the medal flow-down member 30 are supported by the inner side surface of the medal flow-down member 30 and pass through the medal selection device 100. On the other hand, for example, a medal having a smaller diameter than the regular medal M falls down toward the inside of the gaming machine because there is no side surface of the medal flow-down member 30 supporting the medal when passing through the medal selection device 100. Is discharged to a medal tray provided below the front panel via a medal discharge path (not shown).

Incidentally, medals having a diameter smaller than the regular medal M are selected by the above-described medal selecting device 100, but medals having a diameter larger than the regular medal M have a size of the medal slot 20. Selection can be made by making the medal slightly larger than the regular medal M. That is, a medal having a diameter larger than the medal insertion slot 20 cannot be inserted into the medal insertion slot 20 in the first place.

A medal thicker than the regular medal M,
For example, a medal that is thicker than the groove width in the passage of the medal selection device 100 cannot pass through the medal selection device 100. A medal blocker 130 is attached to the medal outlet 110 so as to close the medal outlet 110. The medal blocker 130 is swingably mounted in the width direction of the medal flow-down member 30, and has a medal blocker 13 on one side.
A drive device 131 for swinging 0 is attached. The driving device 131 is formed of a solenoid, and has a tip of a plunger attached to one side surface of the medal blocker 130. The plunger is always in a state of being protruded by the urging of an urging member (not shown) such as a spring, and the medal blocker 130 closes the medal discharge port 110. When the solenoid is excited, the plunger is attracted against the urging of the urging member, and the medal blocker 130 connected to the plunger swings toward the front of the gaming machine to move the medal flow path 50 down.
And the medal discharge port 110 is opened. On the other hand, when the solenoid is demagnetized, the plunger is protruded by the urging of the urging member, and the medal blocker 130 returns to the state in which the medal discharge port 110 is closed.

As described above, the medal blocker 130 always keeps the medal discharge port 110 closed so that the medal M flows down the medal flow path 50 of the medal flow member 30. When the inserted medal counting device 80 counts the medals M of the predetermined maximum inserted number per game and the maximum number of stored credits (50), the solenoid is excited after a predetermined time has elapsed (for example, 400 to 1000 mec). Then, the plunger is sucked, the medal blocker 130 comes off the medal discharge port 110, and the medal M flowing down the medal flow-down path 50 passes from the medal discharge port 110 to a medal tray (not shown) provided below the front panel. Is discharged. After that, when the medal M is used for the game and the number of medals taken in the gaming machine is less than the predetermined maximum number of insertions per game and the maximum number of credits stored (less than 50), The solenoid is demagnetized to make the plunger protrude, and the medal blocker 130 closes the medal outlet 110,
It returns to the state where the medals M flow down the medal flow path 50 of the medal flow member 30.

The take-in medal counting device 120 is provided in the vicinity of the medal take-out port 70 of the medal flow-down member 30 and includes two optical sensors juxtaposed in the flow direction of the medal flow. In addition, the capture medal counting device 120 flows down the medal flow path 50 of the medal flow member 30 and the medal take-out port 70.
The number of medals taken into the medal payout device from is counted.

The medal counting device 120 is composed of two optical sensors juxtaposed in the direction in which the medals flow, in addition to counting the number of flowing medals, detecting the direction in which the medals M pass. This is to prevent wrongdoing. That is, when a medal M flowing down from the upstream side to the downstream side of the medal downflow path 50 is detected, “1” is added to the count value, and conversely, from the downstream side of the medal downflow path 50 to the upstream side. When a medal M is detected, “1” is subtracted from the count value, so that only the medal M that has been properly inserted is counted.

According to the medal selector 10 described above, medals taken in from the medal inlet 60 are first counted by the inserted medal counting device 80. And
The number of medals in which the number of medals taken is equal to or greater than a predetermined maximum number of insertions per game and a maximum number of credits that can be stored.
When the (medal 51) is detected, the medal flow prevention device 90 is activated, and the medal flow-down member is formed at the tip of the solenoid 91.
The 51st medal M flowing down the 30 medal downflow path 50 is pressed down to prevent the subsequent medal M from flowing down (broken line in FIG. 2).

On the other hand, the inserted medal counting device 80
When the 50th medal is counted, 50 medals are counted from the inserted medal counting device 80 to the imported medal counting device 120.
Time during which the second medal flows (for example, 300 to 500 m
sec) has elapsed (for example, 400 to 1000 msec).
In c), the medal blocker 130 is operated to open the medal outlet 110.

For this reason, the captured medal counting device 120
However, even if it is turned off after counting the 50th medal, the so-called swallowing phenomenon that is not counted by the taken-in medal counting device 120 while being taken into the medal payout device does not occur. According to the operations of the medal flow prevention device 90 and the medal blocker 130 described above, for example, when the specified number of medals M (the 50th medal) is smaller than the regular medal M, Although the medals are counted by the inserted medal counting device 80, they are not counted by the captured medal counting device 120. For this reason, the flow of the 50th medal M is actually blocked by the medal downflow prevention device 90. Therefore, in this case, the captured medal counting device
At 100, after counting the 50th medal, the medal counting device 80
Until 0, the time during which the 50th medal flows (for example, 30
Even if 0 to 500 msec has elapsed, if the 50th medal is not counted by the take-in medal counting device 120, the medal blocker 130 is not operated, the solenoid 91 of the medal flow prevention device 90 is demagnetized, and the medal is deactivated. The medal flow path 50 of the flow-down member 30 is returned to a state in which the medals M flow freely, and only the 50th medal is flown down. Then, the solenoid 91 is excited again and the medals M of the 51st and subsequent medals are discharged. Block the flow. By performing this processing, the dropped medals are counted by the captured medal counting device 120 by 50.
It will be counted as the second medal.

In this case, the 50th medal M
The next medal M flows down continuously, and the medal downflow prevention device
It doesn't seem to play 90 roles. However, since the medal downflow prevention device 90 is provided at the upper end of the medal downflow path 50, when the medal downflow prevention device 90 prevents the flow of the medal M, the next medal M is inserted into the medal slot.
20 can not be thrown. Therefore, even if the operation of the medal flow prevention device 90 is released after a certain time has elapsed and the flow of the medal M is restarted, it takes some time until the next medal M is inserted, which is particularly problematic. No.

In the embodiment described above, the inserted medal counting device 80 is constituted by two proximity sensors arranged vertically above and below. This is because if one sensor is provided and this sensor is arranged so as to detect the central portion of the medal, the medal M cannot be detected when the medal M is continuously inserted. This is because the detection of the inserted medal M becomes unstable. For this reason, if the medals M continuously inserted can be reliably detected, a single sensor may be used. In addition, medal downflow prevention device
To further ensure the operation of the 90, two proximity sensors may be connected in series, or the detection outputs of both proximity sensors may be set to AN.
The D processing may be performed so that the medal falling prevention device 90 operates only when both of the two proximity sensors detect the inserted medal.

In this embodiment, the inserted medal counting device 80 is constituted by a proximity sensor. However, the inserted medal counting device 80 may be any device that can count the inserted medals M, for example, an optical sensor. Is also good. FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the medal falling prevention device 90. The medal downflow prevention device 130 is configured to
The plunger 141 protrudes and emerges in the medal flow path 50, and a solenoid 142 drives the plunger 141.

In this medal falling prevention device 130, the plunger 141 is always immersed in the solenoid 142 by the urging of the spring 143 as a urging member made of a spring. It is located outside (solid line in FIG. 4). In this state, the medals M can freely flow down the medal flow path 50 of the medal flow member 30.
On the other hand, when the above-described inserted medal counting device 80 detects a medal M (the 51st medal) that is equal to or more than the predetermined maximum inserted number per game and the maximum number of stored credits,
51 solenoids which excite the solenoid 142 to project the tip of the plunger 141 into the medal falling member 30 against the bias of the spring 143, and flow down the medal flowing path 50 of the medal falling member 30 at the tip of the plunger 141 The medal M is pressed down to prevent the medal M from flowing down (broken line in FIG. 4).

When the solenoid 142 is demagnetized, the plunger 141 is immersed in the solenoid 142 by the urging of the spring 143, and the tip of the plunger 141 is located outside the medal flowing member 30, and the medal of the medal flowing member 30 The state in which the medal M falls freely on the downflow path 50 is returned. As described above, the medal flow prevention device 90 is provided integrally with the inserted medal counting device 80 for counting the number of inserted medals.
Specifically, the inserted medal counting device 80 is provided at the tip of the plunger 141. This inserted medal counting device
80 is composed of two proximity sensors arranged side by side,
The medals M passing through the medal entrance 60 are detected, and the number of inserted medals is counted. For this reason, medal blocker 13
Since 0 can be made compact, the space in the gaming machine can be effectively used.

[0038]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects. Claim 1
According to the invention described in the above, when medals of the predetermined maximum number of insertions per game and the maximum number of credits stored are inserted, the medal flow prevention device operates, and more medals flow down the medal flow member. You are temporarily prevented from doing so.
On the other hand, the medal blocker is activated after a lapse of a predetermined time from the activation of the medal downflow prevention device, and is in a state of returning medals outside the machine.

Therefore, even if medals are inserted in a continuous state, medals of a specified number or more do not flow down continuously to the specified number of medals. Therefore, until the medal blocker is activated, that is, from the receiving state in which the medals flow down to the medal storage unit to the returning state in which the medals are discharged out of the gaming machine, the medal flow-down preventing device uses the medal flow-down preventing device to perform the maximum operation per game. Since the medals exceeding the number of inserted coins and the maximum number of stored credits do not flow down the medal flow path, the so-called swallowing phenomenon, in which medals not counted by the fetched medal counting device are taken into the gaming machine, is reliably prevented. be able to.

Further, since the medal blocker can be made compact, the space in the gaming machine can be effectively used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a state where a medal selector is viewed from inside a gaming machine.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the medal falling prevention device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a medal falling prevention device.

FIG. 4 is a front view of another embodiment of the medal falling prevention device.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the conventional medal selector as viewed from inside the gaming machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Medal selector 20 Medal slot 30 Medal flow-down member 50 Medal flow-down path 60 Medal entrance 70 Medal exit 80 Inserted medal counting device 90 Medal flow-down prevention device 91 Solenoid 92 Iron core 93 Spring 100 Medal sorting device 101 Lower side 102 Upper side 110 Medal Discharge port 120 Intake medal counting device 130 Medal blocker 131 Drive device 140 Medal downflow prevention device 141 Plunger 142 Solenoid 143 Spring 200 Medal selector 210 Medal slot 220 Gutter member 240 Medal sorting device 250 Medal count sensor 260 Medal flow down route 270 Medals Blocker M Medal

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A medal flowing member for flowing a medal inserted from a medal insertion slot into a medal storing portion provided inside the gaming machine, and a medal provided in the middle of the length of the medal flowing member and flowing down the medal flowing member. A medal counting device that counts the number of medals. The medal that is located between the medal counting device and the medal slot and that flows down the medal flowing member does not match a predetermined value. Is located between the medal selection device and the medal counting device, and operates when the medal counting device has counted a predetermined number of medals. In a medal selector of a medal gaming machine equipped with a medal blocker for eliminating medals flowing down a medal flowing member from a medal flowing member The medal flow-down member includes a medal count device that counts medals flowing down the medal flow-down member, and a built-in medal count device that counts a predetermined number of medals. A medal selector for a medal gaming machine, characterized in that a medal downflow prevention device that is activated when the medal is inserted and temporarily stops the flow of the inserted medals is provided between the medal insertion slot and the medal selection device.