JP3831316B2 - Medal delivery device and slot machine equipped with this medal delivery device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a medal delivery device used in a gaming machine including a slot machine.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A gaming machine such as a slot machine is provided with a medal slot. A player can enjoy a game by inserting a predetermined number of medals.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In conventional gaming machines, medals were introduced one by one. This is cumbersome and inconvenient when inserting a large number of medals at once. However, if a large number of medals can be inserted at a time, there is a problem that the medals are clogged at the insertion port or the discharge port. Further, when the rotary hopper is provided at the medal slot, there is a problem that a large space is required in the horizontal direction.
[0004]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a medal delivery device that allows medals to be inserted at a time and can reliably deliver medals.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The medal delivery device of the present invention includes a medal receiving portion that guides a medal inserted into an insertion slot to an exit portion, a belt for transporting medals discharged from the exit portion of the medal receiving portion, and a plurality of medals. Separating means capable of separating the plurality of medals when transported by the belt in an overlapping state, and a frame-like shape provided above the belt and for guiding the medals to the separating means The width in the transport direction of the first medal guide portion is substantially equal to the belt width direction that is at least twice the diameter of the medal below the outlet portion of the medal receiving portion. although having a width, in the vicinity of the separating means is formed to have a width less than twice the diameter of the medal, before the serial medal passes through the separation means, vibration means for vibrating the medals on the belt To, providing a rotary body having a projecting portion in contact with the belt, characterized in that the belt by the rotation of the rotating body so as to move up and down.
[0006]
In the present invention, since the width of the belt is substantially twice or more the diameter of the medal, a large amount of medals can be reliably discharged onto the belt collectively from the outlet portion of the medal receiving portion.
[0007]
Further, according to the present invention, the separating means capable of separating a plurality of medals is provided. For this reason, medals can be arranged and introduced into the gaming machine one by one.
[0008]
According to the present invention, the first guide portion for guiding the medal to the separating means is provided on the belt. For this reason, the medal can be reliably guided to the separating means.
[0009]
Further, according to the present invention, the width of the first medal guide portion in the transport direction is substantially equal to the belt width direction, which is at least twice the diameter of the medal below the outlet portion of the medal receiving portion. However, in the vicinity of the separating means, the width is less than twice the diameter of the medal. Accordingly, the medals can be reliably discharged from the medal receiving portion to the first guide portion, and the medals can be more reliably aligned and introduced one by one in the gaming machine.
[0010]
In the present invention, the separation means is provided on the belt, and a gap between the separation means and the belt is equal to or greater than the thickness of the one medal and less than the thickness of the two medals. It can be. Thereby, medals can be reliably arranged and introduced into the gaming machine one by one.
[0011]
In the present invention, a rotating body having a protrusion contacting the belt is provided as vibration means for vibrating the medal on the belt before the medal passes through the separating means , and the belt is rotated by the rotation of the rotating body. Is moved up and down. Thereby, even when medals overlap in the previous stage of the separating means, medals can be separated or the number of overlapping sheets can be reduced. As a result, clogging of medals can be reliably prevented in the separating means.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1. Embodiment of Reference Invention of the Present Invention FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically showing a medal feeding device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a medal delivery device according to the embodiment.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 1, the medal delivery device 100 includes a medal receiving portion 1, a belt 2, a first medal guide portion (first guide portion) 5, and a separating unit 3.
[0014]
The medal receiving part 1 has a function of guiding the medal inserted into the insertion slot to the exit part A.
[0015]
The belt 2 is for carrying the medals discharged from the outlet part A of the medal receiving part 1. The width W10 of the belt 2 can be substantially twice or more the diameter of the medal as shown in FIG. 2 (the medal receiving portion is omitted). Thus, by making the width W10 of the belt 2 wide, for example, substantially more than twice the width of medals, it becomes easy to put a large number of medals on the belt 2 at once.
[0016]
The first medal guide section (first guide section) 5 is for guiding the medals discharged from the medal receiving section 1 to the belt 2 to the separating means 3. By having the first medal guide part (first guide part) 5, the medal can be reliably guided to the separating means 3.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 3, the width W20 between the first medal guide portions (first guide portions) 5 below the outlet portion A of the medal receiving portion 1 is the first medal guide portion (first guide) near the separating means 3. Part) is larger than the width W30. Further, the width W30 between the first medal guide portions (first guide portions) in the vicinity of the separating means 3 can be less than twice the diameter of the medal. Thereby, medals can be reliably aligned and introduced into the gaming machine. The planar shape of the medal passage section (shaded area in FIG. 4) defined by the first medal guide section (first guide section) 5 can be substantially L-shaped.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 1, the separating means 3 can be composed of a roller for separating a plurality of medals inserted in an overlapping state. The roller 3 is provided substantially parallel to the belt 2. A gap b is provided between the roller 3 and the belt 2. The gap b is slightly wider than the thickness of one medal when the medals are conveyed one by one, and narrower than the thickness of two medals. In this case, the medals are conveyed one by one by the belt 2. The size of the gap b is determined according to the thickness of the medal to be transported and the number of transported sheets. As indicated by the arrows in the figure, in the gap b, the roller 3 moves in the direction opposite to the conveying direction of the belt 2. More specifically, the roller 3 rotates so that the side of the roller 3 that faces the conveying direction of the belt 2 moves in the direction opposite to the conveying direction of the surface of the belt 2 that faces the roller 3. This means that the roller 3 moves in the direction opposite to the conveying direction of the belt 2.
[0019]
The second medal guide section (second guide section) 4 is provided at the end of the belt 2 and guides the transported medal in a predetermined direction. The roller 6 is for driving the belt 2.
[0020]
FIG. 5 shows an example in which the medal delivery device 100 of FIG. 1 is applied to a gaming machine (slot machine). The medals inserted by the medal delivery device 100 can be sent to a medal selector, a hopper, or the like.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 5, the slot machine 10 includes a square box-shaped housing 11. A square window-like display window 12 facing the player side is formed at the center and upper part of the casing 11. A symbol display window 13 through which the symbols 61 of the three rotary reels 40 can be seen is formed at the center of the display window 12 at the center. The pet switch 16 is a switch located below the rotary reel 40. The pet switch 16 subtracts the number of medals bet (betting) by a bet switch operation from the stored number of medals and replaces it with medals. The settlement switch 17 is a switch located obliquely below the rotary reel, and the number of inserted medals corresponding to the value stored in the number of inserted medals (or the subtracted value if subtracted by a bet). Pay out. The start switch 30 is a lever located obliquely below the rotary reel 40 and starts driving the reel unit 60 on condition that a game medal is inserted or the pet switch 16 is inserted. The stop switch 50 is for stopping the driving of the reel unit 60. The reel unit 60 is composed of three rotating reels 40. Each rotating reel 40 includes a rotating drum made of a synthetic resin and a tape-like reel tape 42 attached around the rotating drum. A plurality of (for example, 21) symbols 61 are displayed on the outer peripheral surface of the reel tape 42.
[0022]
FIG. 6 shows a state in which the medal delivery device 100 is viewed obliquely from above. Reference numeral 101 denotes a start / stop switch. By operating this switch 101, the medal feeding device 100 is operated / stopped. A sensor for detecting the presence / absence of a medal may be provided to automatically operate / stop the apparatus. When the player inserts a large number of medals into the medal receiving portion 1, the medal slides on the slope of the funnel-shaped medal receiving portion 1 to reach the exit portion A, and then falls onto the belt 2. The size of the exit portion A is slightly large enough that a plurality of medals easily fall. Therefore, not only when about 1 or 2 medals are inserted, but also when a large number of medals are simultaneously inserted, some of them are surely dropped onto the belt 2 and conveyed. As will be described later, even if a plurality of medals fall on the belt 2 through the exit portion A, the medals are conveyed one by one (in order to inspect and sort the medals in the medal selector and to count the number of medals). Are preferably transported one by one). The medal receiving part 1 may be detachable.
[0023]
FIG. 7 is a view of the inside of the medal delivery device 100 with the medal receiving portion 1 removed. A belt 2, a roller 3, and a first medal guide portion (first guide portion) 5 are attached between two frames 9. The medal that has passed through the outlet A of the medal receiving part 1 falls on the belt 2 shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, 3a is a pulley provided on the rotating shaft of the roller 3, 6a is a pulley provided on the rotating shaft of the belt roller, 8 is a motor shaft, and 7 is provided between the pulleys 3a, 6a and the motor shaft 8. The pulley (playing wheel) B is a belt that transmits the power of a motor (not shown) to the roller 3 and the belt roller 6.
[0024]
FIG. 8 is a view of the medal delivery device 100 viewed from the back. The two frames 9 are held by the spacer S. The second medal guide section (second guide section) 4 is fixed to the slot machine body with screws.
[0025]
Next, the operation of the medal delivery device according to the embodiment of the reference invention will be described.
9 to 11 show a case where one medal M is inserted. In FIG. 9, the medal M that has passed through the outlet portion A of the medal receiving portion 1 falls on the belt 2. Since the belt 2 moves in the direction of the arrow, the tip of the medal M also moves in the same direction, and the medal M is guided to the roller 3 by the first medal guide portion (first guide portion) 5. Since the gap between the belt 2 and the roller 3 is wider than the thickness of one medal as shown in FIG. 10, the medal M is conveyed by the belt 2 and reaches the end of the belt 2. Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the medal M falls along the second medal guide portion (second guide portion) 4 from the end portion of the belt 2. Then, it is guided to a medal selector (not shown).
[0026]
Consider the case where there is no roller 3. If the medals are inserted in a state where two medals overlap, they are conveyed by the belt 2 as they are. In this case, there is a possibility that medals are jammed in the medal selector. Consider the case where a plate is used instead of the roller 3 to provide a gap for one medal. When two medals are inserted in a state where they overlap, the two medals are conveyed together by a belt. Then, there is a possibility that medals are clogged in the gap. Therefore, in order to convey medals one by one without causing clogging when a plurality of medals are simultaneously inserted, it is desirable to provide, for example, a roller 3.
[0027]
2. As in Embodiment 12 of the present invention, before the medal M passes through the separating means 3, the vibration means 20 for vibrating the medal M on the belt 2 is that provided. By vibrating the medal M on the belt 2 by the vibration means 20, even when the medals M are overlapped in the previous stage of the separating means 3, the medals M can be separated or the number of overlaps can be reduced. As a result, the separation means 3 can reliably prevent the medals M from being clogged.
[0028]
The vibration means 20 can be configured to vibrate the medal M by vibrating the belt 2, for example. The vibration of the belt 2 may be vibrated in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the belt 2 or may be vibrated in a direction parallel to the surface of the belt 2. A plurality of belts 2 when vibrating in a direction perpendicular to the surface thereof, the vibration means 20, for example, contact with the belt 2, and the sectional shape is a polygon (e.g. hexagon, octagon) around Ri der It can be comprised by the rotary body used as the shape which has this protrusion . The rotating body 20 rotates following the movement of the belt 2 as shown in FIGS. 12 (a) and 12 (b) (rotates under the stress of the belt 2), so that the belt 2 is placed on the surface. On the other hand, it can be vibrated in the vertical direction (vertical direction). As a result, the medal M can be vibrated in the vertical direction via the belt 2, so that the medal M can be separated or the number of overlapping medals M can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the medal M from being clogged between the separating means 3 and the belt 2.
[0029]
The rotating body 20 may be rotated in the same rotational direction as the belt 2 by a drive unit such as a motor (not shown). Moreover, the rotary body 20 is not limited to a polygonal cross-sectional shape, and it is only necessary to provide a protrusion 22 as a protrusion as shown in FIGS. 13 (a) to 13 (c).
[0030]
3. Other Embodiments As shown in FIG. 14, a guide unit 30 that guides the medal M between the separating unit 3 and the belt 2 may be provided on the medal receiving unit 1 side from the separating unit 3. The guide surface 30 a of the guide portion 30 can be inclined toward the belt 2 as it approaches the separating means 3. This guide part 30 can be plate-shaped.
[0031]
By providing the guide portion 30 in this manner, the medal M can be reliably introduced between the separating means 3 and the belt 2.
[0032]
In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, A various deformation | transformation implementation is possible within the range of the summary of this invention.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross section of a medal feeding device according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a medal feeding device according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing a medal feeding device.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a medal passage portion.
FIG. 5 is a view showing an example in which the medal feeding device according to the embodiment of the invention is applied to a gaming machine (slot machine).
FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which the medal feeding device according to the embodiment of the present invention is viewed obliquely from above.
FIG. 7 is a view of the inside of the medal delivery device according to the embodiment of the present invention with the medal receiving portion removed.
FIG. 8 is a rear view of the medal delivery device according to the embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory view of the medal feeding device according to the embodiment of the invention (in the case of one medal).
FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory view of the medal feeding device according to the embodiment of the invention (in the case of one medal) (continued).
FIG. 11 is an operation explanatory view of the medal feeding device according to the first embodiment of the invention (in the case of one medal) (continued).
FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing the operation of the medal feeding device according to the embodiment of the present invention .
FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing a modified example of the rotating body of the medal feeding device according to the embodiment of the present invention .
FIG. 14 is a schematic view of a medal delivery device according to another embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Medal receiving part 2 Belt 3 Roller 4 2nd medal guide part 5 1st medal guide part 6 Belt roller 7 Pulley 8 Motor shaft 9 Frame 10-16 Blocking member 17 Nozzle 20 Vibrating means 100 Medal delivery device 101 Start / stop switch A Outlet part of medal receiving part B Belt M Medal S Spacer

Claims (3)

A medal receiving part for guiding the medal inserted into the slot to the exit part,
A belt for carrying the medals discharged from the outlet of the medal receiving part;
Separation means capable of separating the plurality of medals when the plurality of medals are conveyed by the belt in a state of being overlapped;
A frame-shaped first medal guiding portion provided above the belt and guiding the medal to the separating means;
The width in the transport direction of the first medal guide portion has a width substantially equal to the belt width direction that is at least twice the diameter of the medal below the outlet portion of the medal receiving portion, but in the vicinity of the separating means Is formed to have a width less than twice the diameter of the medal ,
As the vibration means for vibrating the medal on the belt before the medal passes through the separating means, a rotating body having a protrusion contacting the belt is provided, and the belt is moved up and down by the rotation of the rotating body. A medal delivery device characterized by that. In claim 1,
The separating means is provided above the belt;
The medal feeding device, wherein a gap between the separating means and the belt is equal to or greater than the thickness of the one medal and less than the thickness of the two medals. A medal receiving portion that guides the medal inserted into the insertion slot to the outlet portion, a belt for transporting the medal discharged from the outlet portion of the medal receiving portion, and a plurality of medals being conveyed by the belt while being overlapped And a separation means capable of separating the plurality of medals, and a frame-shaped first medal guide portion provided above the belt and guiding the medals to the separation means. The lateral width in the transport direction of the first medal guide portion has a width substantially equal to the belt width direction which is at least twice the diameter of the medal below the outlet portion of the medal receiving portion, but the separating means in the vicinity are formed to have a width less than twice the diameter of the medal, before the serial medal passes through the separating means, a vibration means for vibrating the medals on the belt, the projections in contact with the belt The rotating body is provided, a slot machine with a medal delivery device, which is characterized in that so as to vertically move the belt by the rotation of the rotating body.

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