JP3664774B2 - Article dispensing apparatus and article dispensing machine equipped with the same - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention stores a card-like article such as a special prize for pachinko and throws out the article based on a throwing-out instruction, and an article throwing-out apparatus including a plurality of sets of the apparatus. Related to the machine.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a dispensing device (article dispensing machine) for dispensing a card-shaped article as described above, there is one disclosed in JP-A-3-236878. In the apparatus disclosed in this publication, stockers for storing articles in an integrated manner are arranged radially around a rotation axis to form an annular shape as a whole, and this stocker is rotated to load articles at a predetermined dispensing position. Two sets of this stocker are juxtaposed to allow articles to be thrown out from each stocker to the same location.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the stocker is arranged in an annular shape in the above-described conventional apparatus, dead space is generated in each corner portion including the central portion when it is assembled in the airframe, so that the entire volume of the apparatus is stored. The number of articles was small and it was an inefficient form.
[0004]
In addition, if the number of stockers is increased to increase the types of articles to be handled, the throwing positions of articles thrown out from each stocker will be greatly separated, and the operability will be significantly reduced, so the types of articles to be thrown out will be increased. There was a problem that was difficult.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and a large amount of articles can be stored even in a small space, and the articles from all the storage units can be thrown out to the same place. It is to be able to do.
[0006]
That is, a plurality of cassettes having a plurality of rows of storage portions for storing card-like articles in an integrated manner, and having a communication portion that communicates the inside and outside of each storage portion, and a size corresponding to each of the storage portions. In addition to the small spaces of the number of storage portions, a receiving space portion integrally having a small space corresponding to one storage portion and a pair of small spaces adjacent to the small space located at the center are provided in the storage portion through the communication portion. And a pair of lift mechanisms each having a lift member that can move up and down substantially in the entire vertical direction of the small space and a pair of small spaces adjacent to the small space located in the center. A pair of feeding means for feeding the articles in the storage section located in each small space in order from the topmost article to the central small space side, and a lifting plate provided in the small space located in the center and receiving the articles and rising Have A holding mechanism on the lifting plate for receiving and temporarily holding the article fed by the feeding means, a dispensing means for horizontally pushing the article on the raised lifting plate, and the receiving space And a slide means for sliding the cassette received in the section by one small space in the direction of arrangement of the small space, and using the small space, the articles in all the storage portions of the cassette are conveyed and thrown out to the same place. It is to be able to do.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.
Articles handled in the illustrated embodiment refer to cash prizes used in pachinko halls, etc., received in exchange for pachinko balls (or medals) acquired by users at a gift exchange in the store, and are usually exchanged outside the store. In exchange for cash. Therefore, in the following, this article will be referred to as a prize 1 and the form is a slightly thick card (about 2 to 3 mm), and three types (equivalent to 200 yen, 1000 yen, and 5000 yen depending on the amount of money) ) Or other 4 types including one denomination, and the outer shape is the same and prepared with different colors. The prize dispenser 2 shown in the figure is installed by being embedded in a counter 3 of a prize exchange place in a pachinko hall, and a store clerk and a customer face each other across the thrower 2.
[0008]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the inside of the gift dispenser 2 by opening the doors 4 and 4 located on the store clerk side, and an upper plate 6 is disposed on the upper side of a box-shaped body 5 having a horizontally long rectangular parallelepiped shape. A display device 7 is disposed at a position closer to the store clerk on the upper surface of the upper plate 6, and an article dispensing unit 8 is disposed at the center position.
[0009]
The display device 7 includes a store clerk display unit 7a facing the store clerk and a customer display unit 7b facing the customer side. The remaining amount of the prize 1 stored, trouble information, and the like are displayed, and the type, number, total amount, etc., of the dispensed prize 1 are displayed on the customer display section 7b.
[0010]
In the airframe 5, seven sets of throwing devices are provided in the illustrated example.
[0011]
This throwing device has a plurality of storage portions 9 and 9 (two rows in the illustrated example) in which prizes 1 are stored in an integrated manner, and is opened in a slit shape that communicates the inside and outside of each storage portion 9 and 9. and (in the figure two) plurality having a communicating portion 10, 10 and the first cassette 11 ₁ and the second cassette 11 _2, the shorter the storage copies have a size corresponding to the respective housing portion 9, 9 In addition to the space, the receiving space portion 12 integrally having a small space corresponding to one storage portion 9 and the small space adjacent to the small space located at the center are provided in the small space adjacent to the small space, and the storage portions 9, 9 through the communication portions 10, 10. A lift mechanism 14 ₁ , 14 ₂ having a lift member 13 that can enter the inside and that can move up and down substantially in the entire vertical direction of the small space, and above the small space adjacent to the small space located in the center. Inside the storage units 9 and 9 that are provided in each small space Feeding means 15 and 15 for feeding the prizes in order from the top prize to the center small space side, and a hold provided above the small space located in the center for receiving and temporarily holding the prizes fed by the feeding means 15 Section 16, throwing means 17 for throwing out the prizes held in the holding section 16, and cassettes 11 ₁ and 11 _{2 received} in the receiving space 12 in a small space 1 in the direction in which the small space is arranged. It comprises sliding means 18 that slides one by one.
[0012]
The cassettes 11 ₁ and 11 ₂ are set so as to drop from above into a cassette carrier 20 provided on the machine body 5 via a slide rail 19 so as to be able to be pulled out. The cassette carrier 20 includes a back plate 21 provided vertically along the slide rail 19 and receiving portions 22 and 22 at the lower end of the back plate 21 that support both widthwise sides of the lower ends of the cassettes 11 ₁ and 11 _2. , 22.
[0013]
As described above, the cassettes 11 ₁ and 11 ₂ have a partition plate 11a at the center so that the prizes 1 are integrated and can be stored in two rows, slit-like communication portions 10 and 10 are opened on one side surface, and the upper end. Is opened and closed by a lid 24 having a handle 23 on the upper surface, and when the premium 1 is loaded and the cassettes 11 ₁ and 11 ₂ are loaded via the cassette carrier 20, the lid 24 is placed in the cassette 11 _1. , 11 ₂ can be opened on the back side.
[0014]
FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the machine body 5, and is a schematic cross-sectional view orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the machine body 5, showing a state in which the cassette carrier 20 is pulled out.
[0015]
An elevator mechanism 25 is provided at the central position in the front-rear direction of the receiving space 12 for receiving the first and second cassettes 11 ₁ and 11 _{2. 1} , a second lift mechanism 14 ₂ is provided, and the storage portions 9 and 9 in which the prizes to be thrown out of the cassettes 11 ₁ and 11 ₂ are placed at the lower position of the cassette carrier 20 are moved to a position where the cassettes can be thrown out. A slide mechanism 18 is provided for alignment.
[0016]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the slide mechanism 18 has a rack member 26 and a lock member 27 fixed to the lower surface of the cassette carrier 20, and meshes with the rack member 26 on the machine body 5 side. A gear 28 for sliding the cassette carrier 20, a motor 29 for driving the gear 28, and position detection sensors S ₁ and S ₂ for detecting the position when the projection 30 of the rack member 26 comes into contact with each other, A lock pin 32 that is engaged with and disengaged from the first and second lock holes 31 ₁ and 31 ₂ of the lock member 27 to maintain the stopped state of the cassette carrier 20, and a link mechanism 33 that operates the lock pin 32 in the vertical direction; It is composed of a solenoid node 34 that operates based on the detection signals of the position detection sensors S ₁ and S ₂ and operates the link mechanism 33.
[0017]
Thus the cassette carrier 20 is slid by engaging with the gear 28 to the rack member 26 rotates, it is determined that the position detection sensor S ₁ or S ₂ for detecting the protrusion 30 cassette carrier 20 has reached a predetermined position locks The lock pin 32 is inserted into the working hole 31 ₁ or 31 ₂ by the operation of the solenoid 34 and is locked at that position. Thereby, any two storage parts 9 and 9 of a cassette are positioned in the position which can be thrown out.
[0018]
In the lift mechanisms 14 ₁ and 14 ₂ , the drive belt 35 is wound between the upper and lower pulleys 36 and 37 in a range extending over substantially the entire vertical direction of the receiving space 12 as shown in FIG. The lower pulley 37 is driven by the drive motor 38 so that the drive belt 35 is rotated endlessly, and the moving body 39 is fixed to the belt 35. The movable body 39 has guide rollers 40, 40 on the upper and lower sides, and the guide rollers 40, 40 are engaged with a guide rail 41 fixed vertically to guide the vertical movement.
[0019]
The above-mentioned lift member 13 is attached to the movable body 39 through an arm 42 in a horizontal posture, and the lift member 13 moves from the communicating portions 10 and 10 of the cassettes 11 ₁ and 11 ₂ to the storage portions 9 and 9. The lift member 13 can be moved up and down, and is lifted and lowered between a standby position located below the lower ends of the cassettes 11 ₁ and 11 ₂ and a raised position close to the upper feeding means 15 and 15. It has become.
[0020]
For example, when the remaining amount of the prize 1 in one of the storage portions 9 and 9 of the cassettes 11 ₁ and 11 ₂ is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the lift mechanism drives the motor 38 to lower the lift member 13 to the standby position. Next, the solenoid 34 of the slide mechanism 18 is energized, the lock pin 32 is pulled out, and the motor 29 is driven to move the cassette carrier 20 through the gear 28 and the rack member 26, and the other of the cassettes 11 ₁ and 11 ₂ is stored. The portions 9 and 9 move to the throwing position, and are locked by the lock pin 32 again at that position. Thereafter, the lift mechanisms 14 ₁ and 14 ₂ are restarted, and the lift member 13 pushes up the prize 1 to take out the payout posture.
[0021]
The elevator mechanism 25 is provided in a small space at the center position in the front-rear direction of the machine body 5 and has a lifting plate 43 that receives the prize 1 by ascending to the upper projection space. As shown in FIG. 3, the horizontal position is set on the upper end of the arm 48 that rises vertically of the movable body 47 fixed to the belt 46 wound between the upper and lower pulleys 44, 45 over the upper position side and the lower position side of the holding section 16. The lift plate 43 is moved up and down by the elevator drive motor 49 from the standby position a to the highest lift position b in FIG.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the feeding means 15 is disposed at a position above the feeding portion 15 a that is located immediately above the storage portion 9 from which the prize 1 of the cassettes 11 ₁ and 11 ₂ is to be taken out. One end of a guide rod 50, a feeding member 51 slidably supported by the guide rod 50, a feeding motor 52 for reciprocating the feeding member 51, and an arm 53 rotated by the motor 52 are connected to the other end. Are a link 54 connected to the feeding member 51, and a pressure detection sensor for detecting the ascent of the prize 1 by contacting the upper surface of the prize 1 on the lift member 13 of the lift mechanism 14 with the base part pivotally supported by the body 5. 55, and a step 51b slightly smaller than the thickness of the prize 1 is formed on the lower surface of the distal end of the pushing portion 51a of the feeding member 51. The step 51b It is configured to further fed a prize 1 to hold unit 16 on the elevating plate 43 one by one the elevator mechanism 25.
[0023]
A gate having a vertical hole and a horizontal width through which only one prize 1 can pass and a convex hole 56 into which the pushing-out part 51a can enter is formed on the surface of the holding part 16 on the prize receiving side. There is a member 57, and a swing plate 58 is pivotally supported by a shaft 59 so as to close the through hole 56 of the gate member 57, and swings when the prize 1 enters and enters the holding portion 16. The prize 1 is allowed to enter, and after entering, the spring 56 (not shown) is brought into a vertical posture to close the through hole 56.
[0024]
A throwing space 60 is provided on the upper plate 6 at a position directly above the holding portion 16, and a throwing means 17 is disposed on the side of the throwing space 60. The throwing means 17 is a belt 64 wound between pulleys 61 and 62 in the horizontal direction and driven by a throwing drive motor 63, and is fixed to the belt 64 via a moving body 65. The throwing member 66 moves in a direction crossing the upper part, and the throwing member 66 has a size capable of closing the upper surface of the throwing space 60 and serves as a shutter for the throwing space 60. A moving portion 67 and a pressing member 69 that is attached to the lower portion of the moving body 65 and that unlocks lifting plate locking members 68 and 68 described later are provided.
[0025]
The lock members 68 and 68 are provided so as to be able to enter and leave the throw-out space 60 by means of pins 70 and long holes 71, and a slide member 72 is fixed to the lower part of one lock member 68, so that the pressing member 69 One end of a lever 74 that extends to a position facing the front end and whose intermediate portion is pivotally supported by a shaft 73 on the upper plate 6 side is pivotally supported by a pin 75 on the intermediate portion of the slide member 72. The end is connected to a connecting member 76 fixed to the other locking member 68 by a pin 77, and the behavior that the locking member 68 protrudes into the ejection space 60 is always given by the bias of the spring 78 (FIG. 10).
[0026]
The airframe 5 is accompanied by a throwing instruction means (not shown) for driving one or more sets of throwing devices to instruct the throwing of prizes. The throwing-in instruction by this throwing-in instruction means is performed by inputting with the operation part (buttons including a numeric keypad) arranged in parallel with the display part 7a for shop assistants. For example, if the type (amount) and the number of prizes are input, the corresponding throwing device (one or more sets) is driven and prizes are thrown out. It is also possible to drive only a specific dispensing device for operation confirmation or the like.
[0027]
However, normally, a prize management machine connected to the dispenser gives instructions for throwing out, and the pachinko balls brought to the prize exchange by the customer are counted, and for example, 48800 yen is paid by the prize. In this case, the most appropriate prize pattern (the pattern that requires the smallest total number of sheets, that is, nine 5000 yen prizes, three 1000 yen prizes, and four 200 yen prizes) is calculated, and each prize is thrown out. Instructed.
[0028]
Next, the operation will be described.
The prize dispenser 2 is installed in a prize exchange place in electrical connection with a pachinko ball counter (which may be a card reader or a barcode reader) and a prize manager.
[0029]
Of the seven sets of throwing devices in the prize dispenser 2, for example, 3 sets are used with 5000 yen prizes, 2 sets with 1000 yen prizes, and the remaining 2 sets with 200 yen prizes. The The storage amount of these prizes is displayed on the store clerk display section 7a and put into a state where it can be thrown out.
[0030]
If a pachinko ball brought in by a customer is counted by a pachinko ball counter and an instruction is given by the prize management machine to throw out a prize of 48800 yen, for example, 5000 from the dispensing device storing 5000 yen prizes. Nine prizes are fed out by the feeding mechanism 15 and accumulated on the lifting plate 43 in the holding unit 16, and three 1000 yen prizes are collected from the throwing device storing the 1,000 yen prizes. Four prizes of 200 yen are fed out from the prize dispensing device, and are similarly accumulated on the lifting plate 43.
[0031]
The customer display section 7b displays the type, number and total amount of prizes to be thrown out, and the store clerk display section 7a displays the type and number of prizes to be thrown out.
[0032]
When all the prizes to be thrown out are accumulated on the lifting plate 43, the lifting plate 43 rises, and when the highest position is reached, the prize pushing portion 67 of the throwing means 17 moves forward and the prize on the lifting plate 43. The first group is collectively pushed toward the customer side of the upper plate 6 and the prize pushing portion 67 closes the upper surface of the dispensing space 60. Simultaneously with the completion of this blockage, the lifting plate 43 is lowered to the standby position to prepare for the next ejection.
[0033]
When the number of prizes in one set of the throwing devices is equal to or less than a predetermined number as the prizes stored in the respective throwing devices are thrown, the next throwing device is switched to throwing. As the number of prizes stored in each throwing device decreases, the remaining amount displayed on the remaining amount display portion of the clerk display portion 7b decreases corresponding to each throwing device, and the clerk is informed of the remaining amount. The In addition, if a gift clogging or the like occurs, the fact is notified.
[0034]
An example of the order of throwing out the prizes will be shown.
[0035]
For example, in the case where the same prize is stored in two sets of dispensing devices (a total of eight cassette storage portions 9), the order of dispensing is as follows: (1) Lift mechanism 14 _{1 of the first} dispensing device while the housing part 9 located in the small space 14 ₂ are disposed, ▲ 2 ▼ same is done to the other order of the compartment 9, and then the cassette 11 _first slide mechanism 18 of the dispensing device is actuated , 11 ₂ are moved by one small space, and {circle over (3)} _{one of} the storage portions 9 located in the small space where the lift mechanisms 14 ₁ , 14 ₂ are located, and {circle over (4)} in the order of the other storage portion 9.
[0036]
When the dispensing is finished, {circle around (5)} _one of the storage portions 9 of the cassettes 11 ₁ and 11 ₂ of the second dispensing device, {circle around (6)}, and {circle around (7)} cassettes 11 ₁ and 11 ₂ slide. The subsequent storage unit 9 is performed in the order of (8) and the other.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of cassettes having a plurality of rows of storage portions are accommodated in a receiving space portion having an excess space corresponding to one storage portion as compared with the number of storage portions, and the cassettes are stored in the receiving space portion. Since the articles are lifted from the storage part of each cassette by the lift mechanism, the necessary number of the articles are fed out and thrown into the dispensing space, so that the space inside the machine can be used to the maximum without causing any dead space. In the case where the storage capacity is the same as that of the conventional machine, the dispenser can be remarkably reduced in size. In addition, the dispensing position of the articles can be the same place in one set of dispensing devices, and even when multiple sets of dispensing devices are incorporated, the dispensing positions do not vary greatly, can do.
[0038]
Further, according to the present invention, the articles stored in the two cassettes can be thrown out continuously, so that the waiting time can be reduced. In other words, in the conventional apparatus, one storage unit is thrown out, the storage unit is rotated (waiting time), one storage unit is thrown out, and the storage unit is rotated (waiting time). One waiting time is generated each time the dispensing is completed. In the present invention, one storage unit is thrown out → one storage unit is thrown out → the cassette slide (waiting time) → the storage unit. The waiting time is once for each of the two storage units, such as one ejection → throwing of the storage unit → sliding the cassette (waiting time), and the waiting time can be halved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view seen from a store clerk showing a state in which a door is opened according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the same.
FIG. 3 is a front view showing an example of a cassette slide mechanism.
FIG. 4 is a front view showing the operating state.
FIG. 5 is a side view showing an example of a lift mechanism.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the same.
FIG. 7 is a side view showing an example of an elevator mechanism.
FIG. 8 is a side view showing an example of feeding means.
FIG. 9 is a side view showing the operating state.
FIG. 10 is a side view showing an example of a projecting unit.
FIG. 11 is a side view showing the operating state.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Premium (article)
2 prize dispenser (article dispenser)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Counter 5 Machine body 6 Upper board 7 Display apparatus 8 Article delivery mechanism 9 Storage part 10 Communication part 11 (11 ₁ , 11 ₂ ) Cassette 12 Reception space part 13 Lift member 14 (14 ₁ , 14 ₂ ) Lift mechanism 15 Feeding means 16 holding unit 17 and dispensing unit 18 sliding means 19 slide rail 20 cassette carrier 23 grip 24 the lid 25 elevator mechanism 26 the rack member 27 the locking member 31 _1, 31 ₂ locking hole 32 locking pin 33 link mechanism 35 drive belt 39 moving body 43 Lifting plate 46 Belt 47 Moving body 51 Feeding member 55 Pressure detection sensor 56 Through hole 57 Gate member 58 Oscillating plate 60 Throwing space 64 Belt 66 Throwing member 67 Free gift pushing portion 68 Lifting plate locking member 69 Pressing member

Claims (2)

A plurality of cassettes having a plurality of rows of storage portions for storing card-like articles in an integrated manner and having a communication portion that communicates the inside and outside of each storage portion;
A receiving space unit that has a size corresponding to each storage unit and integrally includes a small space corresponding to one storage unit in addition to the small number of storage units;
A pair of lift members provided in a pair of small spaces adjacent to a small space located in the center and capable of entering the storage portion through the communication portion and vertically movable over substantially the entire vertical direction of the small space. A lift mechanism;
A pair of feeding means provided above the pair of small spaces adjacent to the small space located in the center and for feeding the articles in the storage unit located in each small space in order from the uppermost article to the central small space side;
An elevator mechanism provided in a small space located in the center and having a lift plate that rises in response to an article;
A holding part on the lifting plate for receiving and temporarily holding an article fed by each feeding means;
Throwing means for horizontally pushing the article on the raised and lowered plate,
Slide means for sliding the cassette received in the receiving space portion by one small space in the arrangement direction of the small space;
An article dispensing apparatus comprising: A plurality of sets of the article dispensing devices are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the slide direction of the cassette, and have a dispensing instruction means for driving one or more sets of the article dispensing devices to issue an article dispensing instruction. An article dispensing machine comprising the article dispensing apparatus according to claim 1.

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