JP3442681B2 - Game media dispensing device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement of a game medium payout device, such as a ball lending device, which pays out a predetermined number of counted game media to a player.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 15 shows a game medium payout device of this type, in which (a) shows a front face and (b) shows a side face. The game medium payout device illustrated here is installed in a pachinko game hall and is for paying out game balls to a player, and particularly illustrates a ball lending device for re-playing stored coins.

A ball lending device for re-playing a coin is for lending a game ball based on a coin deposited by a player at a pachinko game hall. It is installed in the place.

In this ball lending device, a front panel 1a constituting the front surface of the device body 1 is provided with a display unit 1 from above.
0, operation unit 20, receipt ejection port 30, card insertion port 4
0 and the front payout opening 50 are provided in order.

The display unit 10 displays various kinds of information regarding ball lending.
The liquid crystal display means 11 is used for displaying to the player.

On the operation unit 20, the player can enter his / her own personal identification number,
Alternatively, it is for inputting various information such as the number of payouts of the game ball B by keys, and is provided with various operation keys 21 such as a ten key, a confirm key, and a cancel key.

The receipt discharge port 30 is an opening for outputting printing information by the built-in printing unit 31, for example, information such as the number of payouts and the number of remaining coins stored by the current operation as a receipt to the player.

The card insertion opening 40 is an opening for receiving the membership card C in the built-in card reader 41. The membership card C is issued to a player who has registered as a member of the pachinko gaming hall. For example, the membership card C is used to identify the personal information about the player such as the above-mentioned ID number and issuance date, and the pachinko gaming hall. Store code information is magnetically stored.

The front outlet 50 is provided with supply passages 51, 52,
It is an opening for paying out the game ball B supplied to the counting means 54 of the apparatus main body 1 through 53 to the player, and is provided at a position protruding from the front panel 1a. A shutter 55 that closes the front payout opening 50 in a normal state and opens the front payout opening 50 when the front payout opening 50 is operated upward is provided on the peripheral edge of the opening of the front payout opening 50.

An example of the procedure for paying out the game ball B by the ball lending device for re-playing stored coins having the above-described structure will be described below.

First, in this ball lending device, when the membership card C is inserted into the card insertion slot 40, the information stored in the membership card C is read by the card reader 41,
The read information is transferred to the host computer (not shown) through the main controller 60.

The host computer authenticates the transferred information, and when the authentication result is not normal, returns a card unusable command to the main control unit 60.
In this case, the main control unit 60 displays to the player that the card cannot be used through the display unit 10, discharges the membership card C, and ends the procedure.

On the other hand, if the authentication result is normal, I
The main control unit 60 stores the personal identification number corresponding to the D number and the stored coin information.
Will be sent back to. The main control unit 60, which has received the personal identification number and the stored coin information, displays on the display unit 10 a message prompting the user to input the personal identification number.

In response to this, when the player inputs the personal identification number through the operation unit 20, the main control unit 60 compares the personal identification number with the personal identification number received from the host computer. If they do not match as a result of the collation, it is displayed on the display unit 10 that the withdrawal from the coin is not possible, and the player is prompted to re-enter the personal identification number.

On the other hand, when the main control unit 60 confirms that the two personal identification numbers match as a result of the collation, the main control unit 60 displays on the display unit 10 that the player can withdraw from the accumulated coin, and further receives the accumulated coin. Display the current number of balls stored based on the information.

After the above display, the player operates the operation key 21.
After inputting the number of payouts through, after confirming that the input number of payouts is less than or equal to the displayed number of stored coins, the main controller 60
The counting means 54 is appropriately driven by and a predetermined number of game balls B corresponding to the key input are supplied to the upper surface of the guide plate 56. Further, the game ball B supplied to the upper surface of the guide plate 56 is conveyed to the front payout opening 50 according to the inclination thereof, and is held in a state of being in contact with the shutter 55.

Therefore, when the player operates the shutter 55 upward, a predetermined number of game balls B are paid out to the player through the front payout opening 50.

After the above operation, the main controller 60
Discharges the membership card C from the card reader 41, drives the printing unit 31 to print the operation information of this time, and prints the printing result as a receipt to the receipt discharge port 30.
Discharge from. Further, the main control unit 60 updates the stored coin information according to the number of the game balls B that have been drawn out, and after transmitting the update result to the host computer, the procedure is ended.

[0019]

By the way, the number of game balls B paid out at one time by this type of ball lending device is arbitrary according to the request of the player and is not always constant. That is, some players pay out several tens at a time from the ball lending device, and some players pay out the game balls B in units of several hundreds at a time. Normally, in the case of these payout operations, if the payout is a relatively small amount such as several tens, the game balls B can be received by directly placing both hands on the front payout opening 50. When paying out a large amount of game balls B in units of several hundreds, it is common to apply a ball box to the front payout opening 50 to receive the game balls B.

On the other hand, a pachinko game hall has a problem of installation space or running cost related to maintenance / management, and there is a demand to minimize the number of ball lending devices installed.

Therefore, the ball lending device is required to have a function of easily executing each payout operation regardless of the amount of the game balls B to be paid out.

As described above, in the ball lending device shown in FIG. 15, the front payout opening 50 is provided at a position projecting from the front panel 1a. Therefore, it is suitable for an operation for paying out several tens of coins, that is, for performing an operation for receiving the game ball B while pushing up the shutter 55 by putting both hands on the front payout opening 50 as described above.

However, when a large number of game balls B are to be paid out in units of several hundreds, it is necessary to operate the shutter 55 by moving the ball box to the front payout opening 50 and then moving it upward. That is, when using the ball box, the game ball B to be paid out from the front payout outlet 50 must be received with the ball box floating in the air. Moreover, since a large amount of game balls B are paid out, not only the time for maintaining this state becomes long, but also the force required for holding the ball box becomes enormous.

In view of the above situation, it is an object of the present invention to provide a game medium payout device that can easily perform a payout operation regardless of the amount.

[0025]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a game medium payout device for paying out a predetermined number of counted game media to a player, the game medium from the front part of the device main body A first payout opening that enables payout, a second payout opening that allows the game medium to be paid out from a lower portion of the device body to a storage container placed at a predetermined payout position, and these first and a second dispensing opening be those alternatively selected to pay out the game medium, the first
It is movably arranged in the payout opening, and in the normal state, the first
While preventing the gaming medium from being dispensed from the dispensing outlet,
Of the game medium from the first payout opening when moved upward
Shutter means that allows payout and in normal state
A hand that selects to guide the game medium to the first payout exit
And whether the storage container is placed at the dispensing position
It is equipped with container detection means to detect whether or not
If the stage detects the storage container, the second outlet is selected.
It is equipped with a means to choose.

In the invention described in claim 2, in the invention described in claim 1 described above, the counted game medium
The game medium is used as a common guide member for guiding the body downstream.
A retention detecting means for detecting that the body is retained, and
Based on the detection result of the staying detection means, play on the guide member
And a supply control means for stopping the supply of the technical medium .

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the above-mentioned first or second aspect of the invention, the storage container
Is equipped with a mounting table for mounting the
An accommodation recess for accommodating the game medium on the upper surface of the mounting table of
Part is formed .

[0028] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, a mounting table for mounting the storage container at the dispensing position is provided.
The storage container is provided on the upper surface of the mounting table.
A guide rail is provided for this purpose .

[0029]

[0030]

[0031]

[0032]

[0033]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings showing one embodiment. FIG. 13 shows the appearance of the game medium payout device according to the present invention. Similar to the payout device shown in FIG. 15, the gaming medium payout device exemplified here is installed between mutual pachinko game machines at a pachinko gaming machine, on a wife board of a pachinko gaming island, and the like for the player. This is a ball lending device for replaying stored balls for paying out a ball B. That is, in this ball lending device, the display unit 10 for displaying various information on the ball lending to the player through the liquid crystal display means 11, and various information such as the player's personal identification number or the number of payouts of the game ball B are keys. Various operation keys such as numeric keypad, enter key, and cancel key for input 2
1, the receipt unit 30 for outputting print information by the built-in printing unit 31, for example, information such as the number of payouts and the number of remaining coins stored by this operation as a receipt to the player, A card insertion opening 40 for receiving the membership card C to the built-in card reader 41, and the game ball B supplied to the counting means 54 of the apparatus main body 1'through the supply passages 51, 52, 53 to the player. Front payout exit (first payout exit) 50
Are sequentially provided on the front panel 1a 'constituting the front surface of the apparatus main body 1'from above. The front payout opening 50 is provided at a position projecting from the front panel 1a ′, and the point that a shutter (shutter means) 55 is provided at the peripheral edge of the opening is similar to the payout device shown in FIG.

On the other hand, this ball lending device is different from the dispensing device shown in FIG. 15 in that the portion of the device body 1'below the front dispensing port 50 is L-shaped.
That is, in this ball lending device, the lower end of the device main body 1'is formed into an L-shape that bends from the rear side toward the front side, and the mounting table 70 is formed on the upper surface of this L-shaped portion. In addition, a lower payout port (second payout port) 80 is provided at a portion facing the upper surface of the mounting table 70.

The mounting table 70 has 2000 gaming balls B at a time.
This is for mounting a ball box (storage container) BX capable of storing about 3000 pieces. This table 7
No. 0 is provided with a housing recess 71 in the center of the upper surface thereof, and guide rails 72 are provided at portions located on both sides of the housing recess 71. The accommodating recess 71 is formed with a sufficient depth to accommodate the game ball B,
The inner upper surface is covered with a rubber plate 73 for cushioning. The guide rails 72 are strip-shaped resin plates and are arranged parallel to each other along the front-rear direction of the apparatus body 1 '. Although not shown in the drawing, each of the guide rails 72 is attached by a plurality of screws, and can be easily attached to and detached from the mounting table 70 by loosening each screw.

The lower payout port 80, like the front payout port 50, is for paying out the game ball B supplied to the counting means 54 to the player. This downward payout outlet 80 is
It is opened at a position facing the accommodation recess 71 of the mounting table 70.

In the ball lending device, the front payout port 50 and the downward payout port 8 are provided inside the device body 1 '.
0 and the payout unit 100 common between the counting means 54
Is equipped with. The payout unit 100 is for selecting one of the front payout exit 50 and the lower payout exit 80.

The detailed structure of the payout unit 100 will be described below. FIG. 3 shows the payout unit 10 described above.
0 is a sectional view showing the configuration of 0, FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the payout unit 100, and FIGS. 8 to 12 are the respective instruction views shown in FIG.

As is clear from the figure, the payout unit 100 includes a reference member 101 which serves as a structural reference. As shown in FIG. 4, the reference member 101 is formed by integrally molding a gate-shaped mounting portion 102 and a lid plate portion 103 that is bent from an upper end edge portion of the mounting portion 102 in a direction at a right angle. The lower end of each of the mounting portions 102 is bent in the direction opposite to that of the lid plate portion 103. The lid plate portion 103 has a rectangular notch 10 at its tip edge portion.
4 and has a rectangular mounting opening 105 at a position displaced to one side of the intermediate portion. This reference member 10
As shown in FIG. 8, 1 is a notch 1 in the lid plate portion 103.
04 is fixed to the lower end surface of the counting means 54, and the lid plate portion 103 is fixed to the apparatus main body 1 ′ through the bent lower end portions of the respective mounting portions 102 in a state of extending in the substantially horizontal direction. .

Further, in the payout unit 100, an upper ball collecting member 110 is provided at a portion on the upstream side (right side in FIG. 3) of the front payout opening 50, and an upstream side of the lower payout opening 80 (upper side in FIG. 3). ) The lower ball collecting member 12
0 is set.

As shown in FIG. 4, the upper ball collecting member 110 is provided with a pair of left and right side plates 111 and 112. The pair of side plates 111, 112 are arranged such that the mutual intervals gradually increase from the left and right ends of the front outlet 50 toward the inside of the apparatus body 1 '. Side plate 1
The upper end portions on the downstream side and the upper end portions on the upstream side of 11, 112 are connected to each other by connecting members 113, 114, respectively. The upper ball collecting member 110 is provided on each side plate 11
Flange 111a, 1 provided at the upstream end of 1, 112
By mounting 12a on the surface side of the mounting portion 102 of the reference member 101, it is fixed to the apparatus main body 1'through the reference member 101.

Further, the upper ball collecting member 110 is formed by each side plate 1.
A pair of support screws 115 whose axial centers match each other are provided on the outer side surfaces of the upstream sides of the support screws 11 and 112.
The above-mentioned shutter 55 is held via 5. That is, the shutter 55, as shown in FIGS.
The upper ball collecting member 110 has a shape that covers almost the entire surface of the upper ball collecting member 110, and has a payout notch 55a in a region that is an extension region between the pair of side plates 111 and 112 on the front surface thereof. It is rotatably supported around.
As shown in FIG. 3, the shutter 55 is held in a normal state by being tilted forward by its own weight.

As shown in FIG. 4, the lower ball collecting member 120 includes a pair of left and right side plate portions 121 and 122 having an L shape.
The side plate portions 121 and 122 are integrally formed with a standing plate portion 123 that connects the tip portions of the side plate portions 121 and 122 to each other. Outer flanges 124 and 125 are provided on the upper end portions of the side plate portions 121 and 122, and arc-shaped rocking restricting notches 126 and 127 are formed on the respective base end portions from the respective lower edges. There is.

Further, the lower ball collecting member 120 is provided with a hopper 130 at the lower end portion of a portion surrounded by the pair of side plate portions 121, 122 and the standing plate portion 123. Hopper 130
As shown in FIG. 9, the side inclined plates 131 and 132 provided on the inner wall surfaces of the side plate portions 121 and 122 and the front inclined plate 133 that is provided so as to extend between the side plate portions 121 and 122.
The cross-sectional area is gradually reduced toward the lower side and is further smaller than the opening area of the lower dispensing port 80 at the lowermost end. Although not shown in the drawing, the standing plate portion 12 forming the hopper 130 is
3, side inclined plates 131, 132 and front inclined plate 133
A rubber plate for cushioning is provided on each surface of the.

This lower ball collecting member 120 is provided with a hopper 130.
The flanges 128 and 129 provided at the base end portions of the side plate portions 121 and 122 are attached to the rear surface side of the attachment portion 102 of the reference member 101 in a state where the lowermost end opening of the reference member 101 is opened inside the lower outlet 80. Therefore, the reference member 1
It is fixed to the apparatus main body 1 ′ via 01.

Further, the payout unit 100 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, an upper gutter plate (guide member) 140, a middle gutter plate (guide member) 150, a lower gutter plate (movable member) 160, and a container detection member (container detection means) 170.
Is equipped with.

The upper gutter plate 140 is connected to the lower ball collecting member 1 from the lower area of the ball discharge port 54a provided on the lower surface of the counting means 54.
20 is a plate-like member that extends to a position covering the upper area of the hopper 130 provided on the side wall 20, and the side wall portions 1 provided on both sides thereof.
It is fixed to the lower surface of the reference member 101 via flanges 143 and 144 of 41 and 142. As is clear from the figure, the upper gutter plate 140 is gradually inclined downward as it is separated from the counting means 54.

Further, the upper gutter plate 140 has a structure shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 8, a spring mounting bracket 145 is provided in the center of the lower surface, and an oblique wall portion 146 is provided on the upper surface. Spring mounting bracket 14
Reference numeral 5 denotes an L-shape that holds one end of the middle gutter spring 147 and is fixed to the lower surface of the upper gutter plate 140. The slanted wall portion 146 is arranged so as to gradually incline inward from one side of the upstream side end portion of the upper gutter plate 140 toward the lower side. The leading edge of the slanted wall portion 146 has the reference member 101.
It reaches a portion corresponding to the inner end of the mounting opening 105 formed in the above.

As is clear from the figure, the upper gutter plate 1
A retention detector (retention detection means) 180 is provided at a portion of one side of 40 below the slanting wall portion 146.
Are installed. The residence detector 180 is the detector body 18
1, a detection unit 182 and a detection switch 183. The detector main body 181 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape with an open end face located on the center side of the upper gutter plate 140. The detector main body 181 has an upper end protruding above the reference member 101 through the mounting opening 105, and is fixed to the fixing bracket 106 of the reference member 101 through the protruding end. The detector 182 is smaller than the detector main body 181 and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is accommodated inside the detector main body 181 through an opening. The detector 182 is swingably supported by a swing shaft 184 provided at the upper end of the detector main body 181, and the lower end of the detector 182 can advance and retreat toward the center side of the upper gutter plate 140. The detection switch 183 includes a switch body 183a and a movable portion 183b, and is housed in the space surrounded by the detector body 181 and the detection portion 182. The switch body 183
a is fixed to the detector body 181, while the movable part 1
83b is in contact with the detection unit 182. The detection switch 183 constantly biases the detector 182 outward with respect to the detector main body 181, and will be described later when the detector 182 swings inward against the biasing force. Main control unit 6
A detection signal is output for 0.

The reference numeral 148 in the figure indicates the counting means 54.
It is an auxiliary guide plate for receiving the game ball B discharged from the ball discharge port 54a, and is fixed to the upstream side end portion of the upper gutter plate 140.

The middle gutter plate 150 is the upper gutter plate 14
The plate-shaped member is slightly wider than the downstream end portion of 0. The middle gutter plate 150 has side wall portions 151 and 152 provided on both sides thereof with screw insertion holes 151a,
152a, and each screw insertion hole 151a, 152
side wall portions 141, 142 of the upper gutter plate 140
By screwing the screws 153 and 154 respectively,
It is possible to swing vertically around the axial center of the screws 153 and 154 at the outer peripheral portion of the downstream side end of the upper gutter plate 140. The upstream end of the middle gutter plate 150 is slightly bent downward, and the other end of the middle gutter spring 147 described above is locked to the center of the bent part.

The middle gutter plate 150 is the middle gutter spring 1
Due to the tensile force of 47, the upstream end of the gutter plate 1
The lower gutter plate 40 is abutted, and the gutter plate 1
It is held in a state of being inclined in the substantially same direction as 40. At this time, the downstream edge of the middle gutter plate 150 is attached to the reference member 10
It is held in a state of reaching the vicinity of the back surface of the mounting portion 102 in FIG. Although not shown in the drawing, a buffer rubber plate is also provided on the upper surface of the middle gutter plate 150.

The lower gutter plate 160 includes the upper collecting member 11
It is a plate-shaped member having a shape that covers a space between the lower end portions of the pair of side plates 111 and 112 at 0. The lower gutter plate 160 is supported by the screws 161 and 162 screwed to the downstream lower ends of the side plates 111 and 112 so as to be vertically swingable with respect to the upper ball collecting member 110, and the upstream end thereof. Can be moved toward and away from the lower surface of the downstream end of the middle gutter plate 150. The downstream end of the lower gutter plate 160 is located such that the height of the upper surface thereof is slightly lower than the payout notch 55a of the shutter 55 in the forward tilted state. Further, the lower gutter plate 160 has a length sufficient for its upstream end to pass through the mounting portion 102 of the reference member 101 and for its edge to be close to the front inclined plate 133 of the hopper 130.

As is clear from the figure, the lower gutter plate 160 has a lower ball collecting member 1 at the upstream end thereof.
A linking shaft 163 is provided at a portion corresponding to the rocking restricting notches 126 and 127 of 20. The linking shaft 163 extends in the horizontal direction, and has the above-described swing restriction notch 126,
Each side plate portion 121 of the lower ball collecting member 120 via 127,
It projects outward from 122. This linking shaft 163 is
The uppermost movement position of the lower gutter plate 160 is restricted when the upper end edges of the swing restriction notches 126 and 127 come into contact with each other. The lower gutter plate 160 occupying the uppermost moving position has its upstream end slightly separated from the lower surface of the middle gutter plate 150 held in the normal state, and the whole of the lower gutter plate 160 faces the downstream side. It is held in an inclined state so that it gradually lowers. The lower gutter plate 160 has its upstream end bent downward. Also gutter plate 160
Like the middle gutter plate 150, a rubber plate for cushioning is provided on the upper surface of the.

The container detecting member 170 includes a pair of left and right linking arm portions 171, 172, and these linking arm portions 171.
And a connecting plate portion 173 for connecting the base end portions of 172. The linking arm portions 171 and 172 extend in parallel to each other with a space between them, in which the lower ball collecting member 120 can be accommodated, and are provided with a support shaft 174 between respective base end portions. ing. The support shaft 174 extends horizontally in a manner that it is orthogonal to the extending direction of the linking arm parts 171 and 172, and both ends thereof are respectively linked to the linking arm parts 171 and 17.
It projects outward from 2. Also, the linking arm portion 171,
Coupling notches 175 and 176 are formed at each tip of 172. The notches 175 and 176 for linking are groove-shaped ones having a width capable of accommodating the linking shaft 163 of the lower gutter plate 160 described above.
An opening is formed on the front end surface of 172. Incidentally, reference numeral 17 in the drawing
Reference numerals 7 and 178 denote resin reinforcing members attached to the tip ends of the linking arm portions 171 and 172. The notches 175 and 176 for linkage described above are formed on the reinforcing arms 177 and 178 together with the linkage arms 171 and 172. The container detection member 170 has cutouts 175, 17 for the respective links.
6 inside each of the gutter plates 160, the connecting shafts 163.
Of the apparatus main body 1 ′ through the support shaft 174 in a state where the support shaft 174 is in parallel with the linking shaft 163.
Is rotatably supported by the bearing brackets 190 and 191. That is, the container detection member 170 is provided with the support shaft 17
By rotating around the axis of 4, the linking arm portion 17
The tip end portions of the reference numerals 1 and 172 swing vertically, and the upstream end portions of the lower gutter plate 160 are interlocked with each other via the notches 175 and 176 for linkage and the linkage shaft 163.

Further, the container detecting member 170 is provided with the drive arm portion 200 on the lower surface of the connecting plate portion 173. The drive arm portion 200 extends downward once from a portion of the connecting plate portion 173 located on the base end side of the support shaft 174, and is externally exposed via a lever opening 1b ′ formed in the device body 1 ′. The extended lower end portion is bent toward the tip side of the linking arm portions 171, 172,
The container contact portion 210 is held at the bent end portion. The container abutting part 210 can move forward and backward in the front-back direction of the apparatus body 1 ′ via the drive arm part 200 when the container detecting member 170 rotates around the axis of the support shaft 174, and is linked. When the arms 171 and 172 move and occupy the uppermost position, the arms 171 and 172 project to the upper region of the mounting table 70 and are occupied at a position where they interfere with the ball box BX mounted on the mounting table 70.

Furthermore, a pair of selection springs (biasing means) 220 and 221 are interposed between the container detecting member 170 and the lower ball collecting member 120. Selection spring 22
0 and 221, one end of which is held by the outer flanges 124 and 125 of the lower ball collecting member 120, and the other end of which is held by the distal ends of the linking arm portions 171 and 172. The linking arm portions 171 and 172 are urged upward to keep the uppermost moving position in the normal state, that is, the lower gutter plate 160 is held in the uppermost moving position.

Dispensing unit 100 configured as described above
Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the upstream end of the middle gutter plate 150 is brought into contact with the lower surface of the upper gutter plate 140 by the pulling force of the middle gutter spring 147, and the upper end of the upper gutter plate 140 is moved along substantially the same direction. The tilted state is set as the initial state.
Also, in this initial state, the selection springs 220, 22
With the tensile force of 1, the lower gutter plate 160 is occupying the uppermost movement position.

An example of the payout procedure of the game balls B by the ball lending device for re-playing the stored coins will be described below. First, in this ball lending device, the member card C is inserted into the card insertion slot 4
The procedure until the counting means 54 is driven in accordance with the number of payouts entered by the key after the insertion into 0 is the same as the ball lending apparatus shown in FIG. That is, when the membership card C is inserted into the card insertion slot 40, a predetermined authentication / verification procedure is executed by the main control unit 60 of the ball lending device or a host computer (not shown) based on the information read by the card reader 41. After that, based on a control signal from the main control unit 60, a predetermined number of game balls B according to the player's key input is discharged from the discharge port 54a of the counting means 54.

The discharged game ball B is an auxiliary guide plate 14
It is received by the upper surface of the upper gutter plate 140 via 8 and is guided to the downstream sequentially by the inclination. At this time, the game ball B on the upper gutter plate 140, the oblique wall portion 14
6 is gradually guided to the inner side, so that the stay detector 180 does not directly collide with the stay detector 180.
Does not cause a malfunction.

When the payout unit 100 is in the initial state, the gaming ball B guided on the upper surface of the upper gutter plate 140 is
As shown in FIG. 5, since the middle gutter plate 150 and the lower gutter plate 160 are inclined along the upper gutter plate 140, after passing through the upper surface of the middle gutter plate 150,
The upper surface of the lower gutter plate 160 is held in contact with the shutter 55 and does not accidentally fall outside.

In this state, as shown in FIG. 1 (a), if the player puts both hands on the shutter 55 and operates the shutter 55 upward as it is, the front payout opening 50 is opened and the front payout is opened. A predetermined number of game balls B will be paid out to the player through the exit 50. In this case, since the front payout opening 50 is provided at a position projecting from the front panel 1a ', it is possible to easily perform the above-mentioned operation, and several tens of game balls through the front payout opening 50 are provided. It is suitable for paying out B.

On the other hand, when the ball box BX is placed on the upper surface of the mounting table 70, as shown in FIG. 1B, the ball box BX comes into contact with the container abutting portion 210 and the selection springs 220 and 221. The container detection member 170 rotates around the axis of the support shaft 174 against the pulling force of. As a result, the linking arm portions 171, 17
2 swings downward, and the lower gutter plate 16 moves as the linking arm portions 171 and 172 swing.
The upstream end of 0 moves downward. That is, when the ball box BX is mounted on the upper surface of the mounting table 70, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (b) and FIG. 6, the lower gutter plate 160 is tilted with its downstream end facing downward, and its edge is held in a state of being close to the front inclined plate 133 of the hopper 130. It

Therefore, the game ball B guided on the upper surface of the upper gutter plate 140, or already the lower gutter plate 160
The game ball B guided to the upper surface of the lower gutter plate 1
The hopper 130 of the lower ball collecting member 120 according to the inclination of 60.
Will be guided to the inside of the ball box BX through the downward payout opening 80. In this case, as long as the ball box BX is placed on the upper surface of the mounting table 70, the game balls B discharged from the counting means 54 are continuously dispensed into the ball box BX without any operation. Will be As a result, even when a large amount of game balls B are paid out in units of several hundreds,
The operation can be performed extremely easily.

Further, if the ball box BX is removed from the mounting table 70 while the gaming ball B is being paid out to the ball box BX, the container detecting member 170 is pulled by the pulling force of the selection springs 220 and 221. The support shaft 174 rotates about the axis of the support shaft 174 in the opposite direction, and the lower gutter plate 160 immediately returns to the initial state shown in FIG. Therefore, the game ball B guided on the upper surface of the upper gutter plate 140 or the game ball B already guided to the upper surface of the lower gutter plate 160 is guided to the front payout opening 50 which is closed by the shutter 55 again. Therefore, while minimizing the fall of the game ball B from the downward payout opening 80,
It is possible to switch these payout openings 50 and 80 on the way.
In this case, the game ball B dropped from the lower payout opening 80 is accommodated in the accommodation recess 71 provided on the upper surface of the mounting table 70, and there is no fear that it will be scattered around.

A guide rail 72 is provided on the upper surface of the mounting table 70.
The contact area with the ball box BX is reduced because
The insertion / removal work of the ball box BX to / from the mounting table 70 can be easily performed. Moreover, the introduction of ball box BX
Only the guide rail 72 is contaminated during the removal work, and the appearance quality can be maintained even after long-term use. Further, since the guide rail 72 is detachably arranged on the mounting table 70, the work such as cleaning and replacement due to the above-mentioned stain becomes easy.

By the way, in the above-mentioned switching operation of the outlets 50, 80, as the lower gutter plate 160 moves upward, as shown in FIG. A situation in which the game ball B is bitten can occur. However, in this case, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, since the middle gutter plate 150 swings upward against the tensile force of the middle gutter spring 147, these lower gutter plates 160 and There is no risk of damage to both of the middle gutter plates 150.

Further, in this case, the middle gutter plate 150 is rocked upward to prevent the game ball B from passing downstream,
After that, the game ball B guided through the upper gutter plate 140 stays in the upper gutter plate 140. However, the lower gutter plate 160 and the middle gutter plate 150
Since the lower gutter plate 160 and the middle gutter plate 150 are inclined with respect to each other, the game ball B bitten between and is held at a position deviated from the diameter, and eventually the lower gutter plate 160. Will be discharged toward. As a result, the payout unit 100 returns to the initial state shown in FIG. 3, the game ball B retained in the upper gutter plate 140 is quickly guided to the downstream side, and the upper gutter plate 140 is guided. It is possible to automatically prevent the occurrence of a situation in which the passage of the game ball B is continuously blocked.

These front payout port 50 and lower payout port 8
During the payout operation of the game ball B via 0, the main control unit 60 described above, the detection switch 1 of the stay detector 180
The detection signal from 83 is constantly monitored.

That is, when the detection signal is not output from the detection switch 183, the main control section 60 continuously drives the counting means 54 until the number corresponding to the key input is reached,
The game balls B are sequentially discharged onto the upper surface of the upper gutter plate 140.

On the other hand, for example, when the player does not place the ball box BX on the mounting table 70 and does not operate the shutter 55 upward, or the lower gutter plate 160 and the middle gutter plate 15 are used.
When a preset number of game balls B are retained on the upper surface of the upper gutter plate 140 for the reason that the game ball B bitten between 0 and the like is not automatically excluded, depending on these retained game balls B. The detection unit 182 swings inward, and the main switch 60 moves from the detection switch 183 of the retention detector 180.
A detection signal is output to.

In this case, the main controller 60 immediately stops the driving of the counting means 54 and stops the discharge of the game ball B to the upper gutter plate 140. After that, for example, when the player operates the shutter 55 upward to start the payout of the game ball B from the front payout opening 50, or by placing the ball box BX on the mounting table 70 and from the lower payout opening 80. When the retention state of the game ball B on the upper gutter plate 140 is canceled by starting the payout of B, the detection unit 182 swings outward, and the detection signal from the detection switch 183 disappears.

When the detection signal from the detection switch 183 disappears, the main control section 60 immediately drives the counting means 54 to restart the discharge of the game ball B onto the upper surface of the upper gutter plate 140.

According to the ball lending device for controlling the supply of the game balls B to the upper gutter plate 140 by driving the main control unit 60 and the counting means 54, regardless of the number of payouts keyed by the player. By applying the gutter plate 140 having a size capable of mounting the preset number of game balls B, the function as the ball lending device can be sufficiently satisfied. As a result, it is possible to downsize the gutter plate 140 and further downsize the entire ball lending device.

After paying out the game ball B, the main controller 60
Ejects the membership card C,
Is driven to print the operation information of this time, and the print result is discharged as a receipt from the receipt discharge port 30. Further, the main control unit 60 updates the stored coin information according to the number of the game balls B that have been drawn out, and after transmitting the update result to the host computer, the procedure is ended.

The front payout port 50 is selected when a relatively small amount of dozens of coins is paid out, while the lower payout port 80 is selected when a relatively large amount of coins of several hundreds is paid out.
The payouts 50 and 80 are selected.
The selection of is arbitrary by the player, and it is of course possible to pay out the game balls B in the opposite manner. In this case, the shutter 55 of the front payout port 50 is operated to be moved upward by the ball box BX, or the container contact portion 210 is pressed by both hands to lower the payout port 80.
Of course, the game ball B paid out from may be received by both hands.

As described above, according to the ball lending device, by appropriately selecting the front payout outlet 50 and the lower payout outlet 80, the payout operation can always be easily performed regardless of the amount. Becomes Therefore, in a pachinko game hall to which this ball lending device is applied, the number of installations can be minimized, the space for installing the ball lending device can be reduced, and the ball lending device can be maintained and managed. It becomes possible to reduce the running cost related to.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the ball lending device for re-playing the stored coins is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it can be similarly applied to a game medal or the like in which a game medium other than a game ball is paid out. Further, as in the modified example shown in FIG. 14, the present invention can be applied to those which dispense a game medium by inserting cash, and those which have both functions and dispense a game medium by inserting a membership card and cash. You can In the modification shown in FIG. 14, the front payout port 50 is provided at the lower end portion of the front panel 1a ″, and the mounting table 70 is provided.
Is provided with a lower outlet 80 at a position facing the upper surface of the device, and further, a counting means (not shown) and
This is common to the previous embodiment in that a common payout unit (not shown) for selectively selecting the front payout exit 50 and the lower payout exit 80 is provided, and instead of the membership card C. Only the configuration for throwing cash into is different. That is, in this ball lending device, the device body 1 ″
Coin slot 3 on the front panel 1a "
00 and bill insertion slot 310 are provided, and when a ball lending amount is keyed in according to the coin insertion slot 300 or the amount inserted through the bill insertion slot 310, a predetermined number of coins corresponding to this ball lending amount are input. The game balls are discharged from the counting means to the payout unit. The operation of the payout unit after the game balls are discharged is to appropriately select the front payout exit 50 or the lower payout exit 80 in accordance with the request of the player, as in the case described above. Detailed description is omitted. Incidentally, reference numerals 320, 330, 340, 35 in the drawing
0, 360, 370 are display lamps for displaying to the player whether or not a ball is currently lent, a numerical value display portion for displaying the amount of money inserted, a coin or a banknote to be returned. Are a return button, an operation key for inputting a ball lending amount, an outlet for change coins and return coins, and an outlet for change banknotes.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, since the payout unit is configured to have the guide member and the movable member that are common to each other, it is possible to change the two payout openings on the way. The guide passages for the game medium for the first and second payout openings may be completely separate. In the embodiment described above in the case where the payout unit is configured to have the common guide member and the movable member, the movable member has its downstream end portion, that is, in the embodiment, with the shaft center of the screws 161 and 162 as the fulcrum. Since the upstream end is moved in the vertical direction, it is possible to change the payout opening for the game medium that has already reached the movable member. However, the present invention is not limited to these, and the movable member that moves the downstream end in the up-down direction with the upstream end of the movable member, that is, the portion corresponding to the linkage shaft 163 in the above embodiment as a fulcrum, is used. It is possible to make changes such as moving in the left-right direction, sliding movement of the movable member, and the like. In these cases, it is not always possible to change the payout opening for the game medium that has already reached the movable member, but it is possible to surely change the payout opening for the game medium after passing through the guide member after the movement of the movable member. Will be able to. Further, although the middle gutter plate 150 is individually provided as the downstream end of the guide member, the middle gutter plate 150 does not necessarily have to be provided, and the entire guide member may be swung. , It is possible to expect automatic ejection of the game medium caught between the movable member and the movable member.

Further, the second payout opening does not necessarily have to be opened downward from the lower surface of the apparatus main body as long as the game medium can be paid out to the placed storage container. For example, it may be configured so as to open downward from the front surface portion of the apparatus main body, or may be opened laterally from the lower surface of the apparatus main body.

Further, although it is arranged to detect whether or not the storage container is mounted on the mounting table and selectively select the dispensing port, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a movable member is provided with an actuator such as a solenoid or a motor for driving the movable member, and a switch for operating the actuator is provided outside the main body of the device, and the player operates the switch. It is also possible to configure so as to select the payout outlet according to. As a means for detecting whether or not the storage container is placed on the mounting table, the container detection member 170 that swings with the mounting of the storage container is applied, which is high in operation. It is possible to ensure reliability, but it is not necessarily limited to this. For example, various sensors may be applied to detect whether or not the storage container is mounted on the mounting table according to the output signal from this sensor. As the sensor, either a mechanical contact type sensor or an optical non-contact type sensor may be applied. Further, in the case of detecting whether or not the storage container is placed on the mounting table and selecting the outlet, as in the above-described embodiment, the first outlet is selected in the initial state, and By disposing a shutter at the first payout opening, it is possible to prevent the game medium from being accidentally dropped to the outside.

[0082]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By selectively selecting two different payout openings, it is possible to pay out the game media from each. Therefore, regardless of the amount, the payout operation of the game medium can always be easily performed. In this case, if a payout unit having a common guide member and a movable member is applied as a payout unit for selecting two payout openings, it is possible to switch the selection of payout openings during the payout.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a game medium payout device according to the present invention, in which (a) is a cross-sectional side view of essential parts showing a state in which a first payout port is selected, and (b) is a second payout port. It is a principal part sectional side view which shows the state which selected.

2 is a cross-sectional side view of essential parts showing a state in which a game medium is caught in the game medium payout device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of essential parts showing a normal state of the game medium payout device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of a payout unit applied to the game medium payout device shown in FIG. 1.

5 is a perspective view of relevant parts showing a state in which a first payout outlet is selected in the game medium payout device shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

6 is a perspective view of relevant parts showing a state in which a second payout outlet is selected in the game medium payout device shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of relevant parts showing a state in which the game medium is bitten in the game medium dispensing device shown in FIG.

8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG.

9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG.

10 is a view on arrow 10 in FIG. 3. FIG.

11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 11-11 in FIG.

12 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 in FIG.

13A and 13B are external views of the game medium payout device shown in FIG. 1, in which FIG. 13A is a front view and FIG. 13B is a right side view.

FIG. 14 is an external front view showing a modified example of the game medium payout device according to the present invention.

15A and 15B are external views of a conventional game medium payout device, wherein FIG. 15A is a front view and FIG. 15B is a right side view.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ', 1 "device body 1a ', 1a "front panel 50 front exit 54 counting means 55 shutter 60 Main control unit 70 table 71 accommodation recess 72 Guide rail 80 Downward exit 100 payout units 140 gutter plate 150 middle gutter plate 160 gutter plate 170 Container detection member 180 Residence detector 200 Drive arm 210 Container contact part 220 selection spring B game ball BX ball box

Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP 10-113454 (JP, A) JP 61-143086 (JP, A) JP 5-146555 (JP, A) JP 11-267331 (JP , A) JP-A-11-197342 (JP, A) Actual opening 4-42883 (JP, U) Actual opening 4-32785 (JP, U) Actual opening 4-20385 (JP, U) Actual opening 60-192867 (JP, U) Registered utility model 3037227 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A63F 7/02 352

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A game medium payout device for paying out a counted predetermined number of game media to a player, a first payout opening for allowing the game media to be paid out from a front surface of a device body, and the device. A second payout opening that allows the game medium to be paid out from a lower portion of the main body to a storage container placed at a predetermined payout position, and one of these first and second payout openings is selectively selected. Also pay out the game media
A than, movably disposed in the first discharge opening, in the normal state
Prevents the gaming medium from being dispensed from the first outlet
On the other hand, when moving upward, the play from the first payout exit
Shutter means for allowing the payout of the game medium and guiding the game medium to the first payout opening in a normal state
To select whether or not the storage container is placed at the dispensing position.
It is equipped with container detection means for detection, and this container detection means
Select the second outlet when the storage container is detected
Game medium payout device, characterized in that it comprises a means. 2. The counted game medium is directed downstream.
The game medium stays in a common guide member for guiding.
Of the stay detection means and the detection of the stay detection means.
Stop the supply of game media to the guide member based on the output result
Supply control means for stopping.
Item 1. A game medium payout device according to item 1 . 3. The storage container is placed at the dispensing position.
Equipped with a mounting table, and the game on the upper surface of this mounting table.
It is characterized in that an accommodation recess for accommodating a medium is formed.
The game medium payout device according to claim 1 or claim 2. 4. The storage container is placed on the dispensing position.
It is equipped with a mounting table, and the storage is performed on the upper surface of this mounting table.
Characterized by arranging a guide rail for guiding the container
The play according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
Technical medium dispensing device.