JP3051041B2 - Centrifugal coin delivery device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coin sending device for sending change, medal, and the like incorporated in a game machine such as various vending machines, currency exchange machines, and slot machines. In particular, the present invention relates to a centrifugal coin delivery device that rotates a plurality of coins piled up on a rotating plate and sends the coins outward by the centrifugal force. Note that the term “coin” in this specification naturally includes all coins as currencies, and medals and tokens that are similar to small discs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A game machine such as a vending machine, a currency exchange machine or a slot machine has a built-in coin sending device for sending coins to an outlet. Such a coin delivery device is connected to a hopper tank that stores a large number of coins. An opening is provided at the bottom of the hopper tank, and coins to be sent are supplied to the coin sending device from the opening. In such a situation, a plurality of coins are overlapped on the rotating plate, so that the stirring by the centrifugal force is not performed smoothly. In addition, coins tend to be jammed at the coin exit, and the coins cannot be sent out stably.

For example, Japanese Patent Application No. 6-31 filed by the present applicant
8988 describes a centrifugal coin delivery device. This sending device places a plurality of coins on a rotating means, moves the coins outward by centrifugal force, and collects coins from an outlet means which is opened on a part of a peripheral wall arranged around the rotating means. These are sent out one by one.

Further, in order to prevent the coin from being clogged at the exit means, only one coin sent by the rotating means is passed upstream of the exit means in the coin delivery device. Roller means.

[0005]

The conventional centrifugal coin feeding device has a problem that a large number of coins cannot be placed on the rotating plate. That is, when a large number of coins are put on the rotating plate, there is a problem that a plurality of coins are overlapped and coins cannot be sent out. In other words, when a plurality of coins overlap on the rotating plate, there is a problem that the overlap of the coins cannot be broken by a predetermined centrifugal force.
Specifically, when a plurality of coins overlap on the sliding surface of a rotating plate made of metal or the like, there is a problem that the coins cannot be broken with a predetermined centrifugal force. As a result, there is a drawback that coins cannot be sent out if the coins are near the coin exit.

[0006] The applicant has provided a rotating roller upstream of the coin exit so as to break the overlapping coins. That is, the applicant of the present application provided a rotating roller upstream of the coin exit so that only one lower coin passes through.
However, another problem arises in that the coins remaining on the rotating plate without passing through the rotating roller block the coin exit. In other words, even if the rotating rollers are arranged, there is still a case where the coins may still be overlapped, and the coins cannot be sent out. Specifically, there is a problem that the overlap of coins remaining on the metal surface on the outer peripheral portion of the rotating plate, that is, the sliding surface does not collapse with a predetermined centrifugal force. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a centrifugal coin feeding device which solves the above-mentioned problems.

[0007]

The present invention provides at least a rotating plate (7) for moving a coin outward by centrifugal force, and a guide for surrounding the rotating plate and guiding the moving coin. A guide wall (8), a coin outlet (11) formed on a part of the guide wall for sending out one guided coin, and a rotatably disposed upstream of the coin outlet. A roller (13) for allowing one coin to pass therethrough, and a roller (13) arranged near the coin outlet for stopping and guiding one coin moved by the rotary plate to the coin outlet. And a resilient plate (24).

According to the present invention, there is provided a coin dispensing apparatus characterized in that a friction surface (75) having an extension (76) for stirring coins is arranged at the center of the rotating plate (7). It is.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a state in which a coin delivery device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention is incorporated in a slot machine 30 which is a game machine. A hopper tank 2 for accommodating a large number of coins in a bulk state is provided on the coin sending device 1, and a coin tray 31 is provided below the hopper tank 2.

The coin supplied from the hopper tank 2 to the coin delivery device 1 is received by the rotating plate 7 of the coin delivery device 1. As shown in FIG. 3, when the rotating plate 7 is rotated, the rotating plate 7 is stirred by the stirring friction surface 75, and the coin C is moved to the outside of the rotating plate 7 by the action of the centrifugal force. The coin C further moved outward is conveyed along the guide wall 8 in the direction of the arrow, that is, counterclockwise by the centrifugal force and the extension 76.

When the coin C on the rotating plate 7 is carried in a single flat state, the coin C can pass under the rotating roller 13 smoothly in the direction of the arrow. On the other hand, with two or more coins stacked on the rotating plate 7,
When approaching the rotating roller 13, the upper coin is repelled by the rotation when coming into contact with the peripheral surface 13 c of the rotating roller 13, and is taken out of the coin passage 9, for example. Therefore, the bottom coin can pass under the rotating roller 13 in the direction of the arrow.

As shown in FIG. 5 (B), when one coin collides, the exit guide plate 24 is guided to the coin exit 11 without deformation. On the other hand, the exit guide plate 2
5, the coin turns and deforms the exit guide plate 24 and passes as it is, as shown in FIG. As a result, only one flat coin is always supplied to the coin exit, so that it is possible to prevent the coin from being jammed at the coin exit 11 beforehand and to enable stable payout. The coin C on the rotating plate 7 that has passed through the coin outlet 11 is further accelerated by the belt 20 and guided to the falling hole 23 by the knife 57 via the guide wall 56.

[0013] Such a coin sending device 1 is configured as follows. Large rectangular substrate 3 shown in FIG.
Is supported by a pair of side plates 4 and 5. Substrate 3
The motor 6 is mounted in the space between the side plates 4 and 5 below the motor. The motor 6 rotates a circular rotary plate 7 provided on the upper surface of the substrate 3 by a drive shaft 61 via a gear device (not shown). In FIG. 2, the rotating plate 7 is
It rotates in the direction of the arrow, ie, counterclockwise. The rotating plate 7 in this embodiment is formed of an aluminum plate, but it is a matter of course that another metal plate or resin may be used.

A guide wall 8 is fixed upright on the substrate 3 around the rotary plate 7. Therefore, a coin passage 9 in which coins move along the guide wall 8 due to centrifugal force is formed at the periphery of the upper surface of the rotating plate 7. Furthermore, coin guide wall 8
A coin exit plate 10 which is elongated is provided in the opening of the coin, and a part of the coin guide wall 8 is formed to accommodate coins falling down from the hopper tank 2 shown in FIG.

A rubber plate 75 is embedded in the center of the rotating plate 7 so as to be flush with the rotating plate 7 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the shape of the rubber plate 75 is such that an extended portion 76 (a portion surrounded by an outer peripheral line and an imaginary line), which is a part thereof, is provided so as to extend to a range of the coin passage 9. It is formed in a substantially elliptical shape as a whole.

The shape of the rubber plate 75 in FIG.
The extension 76 has two substantially elliptical shapes. However, the extension may be one or more than two. In other words, if the extension of the rubber plate 75 extends to the area of the coin passage 9, for example, Of course, a triangular shape may be used. The rubber plate 75 stirs the stored coins by friction during rotation, assists the movement of the coins C by centrifugal force, and
The coin is guided to the coin exit 11 according to the rotation direction.

The coin exit plate 10 is composed of a vertical plate portion 10a crossing the periphery of the upper surface of the rotary plate 7 and a horizontal plate portion 10b covering the upper portion of the rotary plate 7, and the horizontal plate portion 10b is connected to the vertical plate portion 10a. Is formed. A coin outlet 11 is formed between the lower edge of the vertical plate portion 10a and the upper surface of the rotating plate 7, and the coin outlet 11 is larger than the thickness of one coin C and smaller than the thickness of two overlapping coins C. I have. Therefore, although one coin C can pass flatly, it cannot pass with the coins overlapping, and the coin exit 1
From 1 on, coins are sent out one by one.

Further, a roller 13 for passing only one coin sent by the rotary plate 7 and an exit guide plate 24 are disposed upstream of the coin exit 11. The roller 13 is rotatable about a shaft 12 and
The upper end of the shaft 12 is penetrated by the horizontal plate portion 10 b, and the lower end of the shaft 12 is planted on the substrate 3. Further, an opening 10c for rotatably receiving the roller 13 is formed in the right half of the vertical plate portion 10a.

The upper surface 13a of the roller 13 is pushed down toward the rotating plate 7 by a coil spring 14 wound around the shaft 12. Further, a ring-shaped spacer (not shown) is provided on the shaft 12 on the lower surface 13b side of the roller 13 so that the distance between the roller lower surface 13b and the upper surface of the rotating plate 7 is ensured so that one coin C can pass therethrough. ing.

At the center of the peripheral surface 13c of the roller 13,
A gear 16 is provided in a ring shape, and rotation is given to the friction roller 21 by the rotation of the rotating plate 7. A pulley 19 and a first gear 18 are integrally formed on the friction roller 21, and at the same time, Rotate. (See FIG. 4) Further, the rotation of the first gear 18 causes the arm 51 to move together,
The second gear 17 meshes with the third gear 16 and the rotation is transmitted to the roller 13. In other words, when the motor 6 is rotated, the rotating plate 7 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction and the friction roller 21 is rotated.
Is rotated clockwise. This clockwise rotation is transmitted to the roller 13 via the first gear 18, the second gear 17, and the third gear 16, and the roller 13 is rotated clockwise.

The third gear 16 is meshed with the second gear 17 so as to be movable in the thickness direction, that is, in the vertical direction. The second gear 17 is pivoted 52 at the tip of an arm 51 with a bearing block interposed therebetween, and the arm 51 sandwiching these gears 18, pulley 19, and friction roller 21 is attached to the substrate 3 together with these. The pivot 55 is provided. (See FIG. 3) In this embodiment, the roller 13
Is formed in a columnar shape, but may of course be a cylindrical shape or a disk shape.

With the above configuration, when the coin C sent by the rotating plate 7 passes in a flat state,
The coin C on the rotating plate 7 can pass smoothly under the rotating roller 13 in the direction of the arrow. On the other hand,
For example, when two coins are vertically stacked on the rotating plate 7 and approach the rotating roller 13, the upper coin is flipped by the rotation when it comes into contact with the peripheral surface 13 c of the rotating roller 13, and the coin passage is formed. 9 will be taken out. Therefore, the lower coin can pass under the rotating roller 13 in the direction of the arrow.

An exit guide plate 24 of the present invention is disposed between the roller 13 and the coin exit 11. The exit guide plate 24 is formed of a rectangular elastic member as shown in FIG. 5 (A), and as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.
Screw. The lower end of the elastic member 24 is disposed so as to be substantially parallel to the upper surface of the rotating disk 7, and the gap W between them is larger than the thickness of one coin to be sent as shown in FIG. It is formed small.

Even if the lower end of the elastic member 24 is not parallel as in this embodiment, a part or the whole of the elastic member 24 is formed to be smaller than the thickness of one coin to be sent out as long as the rotation of the rotating disk 7 is not hindered. Is done. Further, the elastic member 24 in this embodiment is made of urethane resin, but in addition to a so-called elastomer material that returns to its original shape without being permanently deformed by a collision of a coin, a metal piece, a synthetic resin piece, and the like are rotated. It is a concept that also includes things that are hung down like a goodwill toward the plate 7.

The coin C that has passed under the rotating roller 13 is further moved by the rotating plate 7, and the exit guide plate 2
4 and is guided to the coin exit 11. As shown in FIG. 5B, when one coin collides, the exit guide plate 24 guides the coin to the coin exit 11 without deformation.
On the other hand, when the coins flattened by the rollers 13 again form a plurality of masses and collide against the exit guide plate 24, the coins are returned to the exit guide plate 24 as shown in FIG.
Is turned up and deformed and passes as it is. Then, after passing the coins in the lump state, the exit guide plate 24 elastically returns to the original position. Thereby, the coin exit 11 always has
One flat coin is guided.

The coin C on the rotating plate 7 that has passed through the coin outlet 11 is further accelerated by the belt 20 and guided to the falling hole 23 via the guide wall 56.
A coin drop hole 23 is formed on the left side of FIG. 3, and an idler pulley 22 is disposed near the drop hole 23. A belt 20 for sending out coins is stretched between the pulley 19 and the pulley 22.

With the above configuration, the coin C passing through the coin outlet 11 is sandwiched between the rotating plate 7 and the belt 20, and is forcibly sent out along the coin guide wall 56.
Further, the coin C is guided to the falling hole 23 by a substantially triangular knife 57 which closes about half of the coin falling hole 23, and is ejected from the coin delivery device to the outside. (See FIG. 2) This ends the coin payout.

[0028]

As described above, the present invention comprises a roller (13) rotatably disposed upstream of a coin outlet (11) for passing one coin, and a roller (13) near the coin outlet. An elastic plate (24) arranged to stop and guide one of the coins moved by the rotating plate (7) and guide it to the coin outlet. The rollers provided upstream can break the stack of coins, and the stack of coins remaining on the rotating plate without passing through the rollers can be broken by the elastic plate. Further, according to the present invention, the elastic plate can be formed so as to be guided to the coin exit when the number of coins is one, and to be deformed when the number of coins is plural so as to pass through the plurality of coins.

In addition, according to the present invention, even if the coin is stopped by the elastic plate (24), the extension (7
Stirring is performed by the friction surface (75) having 6), and the stopped state of the coin is eliminated. As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a coin from being jammed at a coin outlet, and to obtain a great effect that stable coin delivery becomes possible. In other words, by employing the present invention, a larger amount of coins can be placed on the rotating plate of the centrifugal coin delivery device than in the past.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a use state of an embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the roller unit of FIG. 3 as viewed from the right side.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

Coin C Rotating means 3: Board, 6: Motor, 7: Rotating plate Guide means 3: Board, 8: Coin guide wall Exit means 10: Coin exit plate (10a: Vertical) Plate part, 10b: Horizontal plate part) 11: Coin exit Roller means ... 12: Shaft, 13: Roller rotation drive means ... 3: Board, 6: Motor, 7: Rotating plate, 16: Third gear, 17: second gear, 18: first
Gear, 21: friction roller

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A rotating plate (7) for moving coins outward by centrifugal force, and a guide wall (8) surrounding the rotating plate for guiding moving coins. A coin exit (1) formed on a part of the guide wall for sending out one guided coin to the outside.
1) a roller (13) rotatably disposed upstream of the coin outlet for passing one coin;
An elastic plate (24) disposed near the coin exit, for stopping one coin moved by the rotating plate and guiding the coin to the coin exit. Coin delivery device. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a center portion of said rotary plate is provided with an extension portion for stirring coins.
A coin delivery device characterized in that a friction surface (75) having 6) is arranged.