JP4085585B2 - Throwing medal sorting device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an inserted medal sorting device for a gaming machine such as a slot machine used as one of popular entertainments. More specifically, the present invention has a simple configuration when an unapplicable small-diameter medal or circulation coin is inserted. The present invention relates to a medal sorting device for gaming machines that can be returned efficiently.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, this type of medal (coin) sorting device is provided with a medal passage inclined obliquely downward from the vertical direction inside the insertion slot as shown in JP-A-8-24434. When passing, the medal is sorted according to the appropriate size and unsuitable size in the process of rolling and transporting by its own weight, and the pick-up process and the return process are performed.
[0003]
In this case, when a medal of an appropriate size is inserted into the medal passage, the medal is taken inward through the medal passage. On the other hand, when an inappropriate medal with a small diameter is inserted, it is laid down in the middle of taking in this medal passage, discharged to a discharge opening that opens to the side, and returned to a return opening below this. .
[0004]
At this time, when the inserted medal passes through the inner medal passage, the speed is too high and the medal may not be removed at the position where it should be removed.
[0005]
For this reason, as shown in FIG. 9, the medal path inserted is inclined downward in the medal thickness direction with respect to the vertical medal introduction path 92 communicating with the insertion slot 91 as shown in FIG. It is conceivable to incorporate an inclined passage 93 in consideration of the above.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a passage connecting portion extending from the medal introduction passage to the inclined passage, the space in the passage is curved and the passage resistance is high, so that the space in the medal thickness direction is widened so that the medal passes smoothly. There is a need.
[0007]
However, if the space in the passage is widened, the contact resistance with the medal becomes small, and the medal may be lowered at a high speed and taken inward. For this reason, there is a possibility that a small-diameter medal to be excluded is taken in, or the medal discrimination performance at the detection position is lowered, and the medal swallowing due to erroneous counting occurs.
[0008]
Furthermore, there is a problem that by increasing the space in the passage, there is a high possibility that two medals continuously inserted in the wide portion overlap or flutter and cause medal clogging.
[0009]
In view of this, the present invention provides a medal receiving guide means for stable medal descent in a curved portion continuing from the vertical medal introduction passage to the inclined passage inclined in the medal thickness direction when taking in the medal from the insertion slot. It is an object of the present invention to provide an input medal sorting device for gaming machines that eliminates clogging of medals.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention, to screen the size of medals inserted from the inlet, accept medal proper size, a projection entry token selecting apparatus provided with a sorting guide means for eliminating unsuitable size Medals acids , perpendicular medals introduction passage for passing the medal inserted from the inlet, the inclined oblique passage passing by inclined medals from the medal introduction passage in the medal thickness direction, and the inclined passage and the medal introduction passage connected In addition, a curved passage that is wide and curved in the medal thickness direction is provided, and a medal receiving guide means that protrudes from the leading end of the curved passage and is biased in the direction of the passage by a biasing spring is provided in the curved passage. provided, the medal receiving guide means, the inlet side by the time descent medal is pushed to the medal retracted allowed the passage retracting direction, medals inserted from the inlet is pulled back upward Characterized in that you restrict movement to the elevated sometimes passage retracting direction.
[0011]
As a result, the medals are put into entry mouth, the tip of the medal receiving guide means which is biased protruding inserted medals at the position of the curved path leading to the inclined path for token selecting promote a perpendicular medal introduction passage The medals led here are all brought to one wall surface in the medal thickness direction of the aisle while receiving the passing guide function for one medal. Descent.
[0012]
For this reason, even if it is made a wide passage in order to improve the passage nature of a medal, the passage suitable for descent of a medal can be formed. In particular, when the medal receiving guide means is disposed at the position of the curved passage that requires a large passage space, the medal receiving guide means serves to perform pressure guide so as to cut one medal. In addition, it is possible to perform a take-in operation that eliminates clogging of medals by eliminating two overlapping medals and fluttering.
[0013]
Therefore, even if medals are continuously inserted, the medal acceptance guide means receives and guides the medals guided here one by one, so that even if medals are continuously inserted, the medals are taken in one by one. be able to.
[0014]
Further, the medal acceptance guide means lightly contacts a medal that descends vigorously immediately after being inserted, so that it can be decelerated and lowered. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the speed difference of medals whose direction is changed from the vertical path to the inclined path that rolls at a low speed by suppressing the passing speed in the vertical path that descends at a high speed. Thus, medals inserted in the entrance mouth can be a small stable speed of speed variation suitable for incorporation Medals capturing inwardly. Further, in terms of detection performance, it is possible to accurately discriminate medals of an appropriate size and small diameter medals to be excluded at the detection position, so that occurrence of medal swallowing due to erroneous counting can be prevented.
[0015]
Thus, only by providing the medal receiving guide means curved path formed inside of the input mouth for 1 chromite lump guide function for taking to stabilize the medal is obtained, be a simple structure which simplified However, a high-performance medal acceptance effect can be obtained.
[0016]
Further, the medal receiving guide means is pushed by the medal when the medal descends and allows the medal to be retracted in the passage retracting direction, and when the medal inserted from the entrance is pulled back upward , the medal receiving guide means moves in the passage retracting direction. In this case, even if an unauthorized player tries to pull the medal upward by using a thread hanging medal, the medal receiving guide means does not retract from the passage and the position is regulated. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent an illegal pull back operation using a thread hanging medal.
[0017]
Herein, the input mouth has an opening of one-on component for receiving permit medals proper size, more large medals and extra-thick medals, introduced restriction in parts of the entry mouth Is done.
[0018]
The appropriate size medal is a medal having a disk shape of a certain size provided exclusively for game use, and the inappropriate size medals are smaller in diameter than a regular size medal. It means circulation coins and counterfeit medals.
[0019]
The inclination in the medal thickness direction is an inclination angle in which the sideways action of the medals rolling on the passage naturally occurs due to the weight of the medal itself. If this inclination angle is too small, the sideways action is delayed. If it is too large, the rolling load for an appropriate medal will increase, so about 15 ° is preferable.
[0020]
The sorting guide means is a medal reception guide position that forms a part of an inclined passage and conveys and guides an appropriately sized medal, and a medal reception restricting position that discharges an inappropriately sized medal to the discharge port. And a movable guide plate that can be moved and switched.
[0021]
The medal receiving guide means can be configured by combining a movable protrusion piece that is allowed to move and an urging spring that urges the movable protrusion piece lightly toward the curved path.
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
The drawing shows a slot machine insertion medal sorting device installed in a game hall. In FIG. 1, this slot machine 11 opens a slot 12 for receiving medals M one by one on one side of the front game operation surface. It has a built-in sorting function for taking a medal of a regular size inserted into the slot 12 and returning medals of an inappropriate size to the external return slot 13. A return button 14 is provided next to the insertion slot 12, and the medal M is returned to the return slot 13 even when the player presses the return button 14 to stop the game.
[0023]
FIG. 2 shows an inner surface state of the door in which the front door 15 of the slot machine 11 is opened in a single-open manner. The slot machine main body 11a has a reel 16 at the upper part and a hopper for taking in medals at the lower part. 17, a medal return passage (not shown), and a power supply device 18.
[0024]
On the other hand, on the inner side of the front door 15, a reel cover 19, an inserted medal sorting device (medal selector) 20, and a return port 13 are arranged in this order from the top.
[0025]
3 and 4 show the inserted medal sorting device 20, which forms a medal passage 23 for selecting inserted medals by integrally combining a U-shaped substrate 21 and an opening / closing plate 22. Covering with a U-shaped cover 24, it is constructed integrally.
[0026]
The above-described medal passage 23 is formed by connecting a vertical path 23a and an inclined path 23b that is more gently inclined than this between an inlet 25 corresponding to the upper insertion port 12 and a lower outlet 26. .
[0027]
Among these, on the side of the U-shaped substrate 21 of the vertical path 23a, a movable protruding piece 27 for stable descent of a medal that protrudes horizontally from the back side toward the passage side is provided, and this movable protruding piece 27 is shown in FIG. As shown, the spring 28 for light load is urged lightly from the rear and is held in a protruding state.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 8, the movable projecting piece 27 is pivotally supported with the upper pivotal support portion 29 as a rotation fulcrum, and the tip end portion of the movable projecting piece 27 usually applies the urging force of the light load spring 28. When the inserted medal M passes through the small window 30 of the U-shaped substrate 21 toward the vertical path 23a and vigorously passes downward from above, the medal M pushes the medal M in the direction of retracting the passage. The medals M that have been inserted are allowed to pass as they are.
[0029]
In this case, the passage is preferably a wide passage in order to improve the passage of medals, but on the other hand, clogging of medals tends to occur easily. Even in such a case, because of the projecting action of the movable projecting piece 27 described above, the medal M guided and lowered can be passed through the wall surface of the vertical path 23a on the opening / closing plate 22 side in the medal thickness direction. The movable protrusion 27 has a passage guide function for one medal and forms a passage suitable for the medal descent. For this reason, the stable path | route which eliminated clogging of medals can be formed. In particular, it is suitable when applied to a wide curved path R extending from the vertical path 23a to the inclined path 23b.
[0030]
When the movable projecting piece 27 is disposed at the position of the curved passage R that requires a wide passage space, the movable projecting piece 27 serves as a pressure guide so as to cut one medal. It is possible to take-in operation that eliminates clogging of medals by eliminating two overlapping medals and fluttering.
[0031]
Therefore, even if medals are continuously inserted, the movable protrusion 27 receives and guides the medals guided here one by one, so that even if medals are continuously inserted, the medals are picked up one by one. be able to.
[0032]
Moreover, since the movable protrusion 27 can be lightly brought into contact with the medal M that descends vigorously immediately after being thrown and decelerated, the direction is changed from the vertical path 23a that descends at a high speed to the inclined path 23b that rolls at a low speed. The speed difference of the medals M can be reduced, and therefore, the medals M can be taken inward at a stable speed with little speed fluctuation suitable for taking medals.
[0033]
Further, the movable projecting piece 27 is also provided with a thread-medaling prevention function. This thread hanging medal prevention function is projected at a lower position with respect to the position of the upper pivotal support portion 29 that pivotally supports the movable protrusion 27. For this reason, even if it is attempted to pull back upward using a thread hanging medal, the movable projecting piece 27 is pivotally supported in a state in which the position is regulated by the upper pivotal support portion 29, so that it moves in the horizontal direction but in the vertical direction. It is possible to reliably prevent the upward pulling operation using the thread hanging medal without moving.
[0034]
Next, a movable guide plate 31 that forms a part of the upper side of the passage is arranged on the upper side parallel to the slope 23b on the side of the U-shaped substrate 21 of the slope 23b, and passes through this. The top of the medal M is transported and guided by the inverted L-shaped movable guide plate 31.
[0035]
Further, a pair of passage detection sensors S1, S2 is disposed immediately before the exit 26 portion of the ramp 23b, and the number of medals M,... Passed by these sensors S1, S2 is counted. In this case as well, since the medal speed fluctuation is small and stable, the medal with the proper size and the small-diameter medals that should be excluded can be accurately discriminated at the detection position. The occurrence of swallowing medals by counting can be prevented beforehand.
[0036]
Further, on the inner surface of the medal passage 23 of the U-shaped substrate 21, a plurality of ribs 32 parallel to the vertical path 23a to the inclined path 23b are formed to protrude at equal intervals. By providing these ribs 32..., The medal M inserted with a concavo-convex surface in the medal passage 23 is taken in the space of the medal passage 23 with the outer surface of the medal in line contact with the top of the ribs 32. As a result, the contact area with the medal is reduced, and the passing resistance of the inserted medal is reduced to facilitate smooth conveyance at high speed. The rib shape is set to a shape that reduces the medal passage resistance.
[0037]
On one side of the above-mentioned medal passage 23, an opening / closing plate 22 to be described later has a guide structure that faces the U-shaped substrate 21 to form one side of the passage 23.
[0038]
The above-described opening / closing plate 22 is provided with a shaft 34 that is pivotally supported by the bearing 33 of the U-shaped substrate 21, and is mounted on the bearing 33 of the U-shaped substrate 21 so as to be rotatable about the shaft 34. A part of the opening / closing plate 22 is urged and integrated with the U-shaped substrate 21 so that a medal passage 23 is formed therebetween.
[0039]
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the opening / closing plate 22 has an elliptical discharge port 36 that is opened along the inclined path 23 b of the medal passage 23. The opening / closing plate 22 is mounted on the U-shaped inner surface of the U-shaped substrate 21 to form a medal passage 23, and when an unapplicable (small diameter) medal M1 is led to the medal path 23, it is discharged from the discharge port 36. .
[0040]
As shown in FIG. 6, on the inner surface side of the opening / closing plate 22, a plurality of similar ribs in the same direction as the ribs 32 on the side of the U-shaped substrate 21 on the surface facing the vertical path 23 a of the U-shaped substrate 21. 37 ... are formed.
[0041]
Therefore, in the medal passage 23, the medal M receives the line contact action of the ribs 32, 37... On both sides, thereby further reducing the passage resistance of the inserted medal and promoting smooth conveyance.
[0042]
Next, the inclination of the medal passage 23 will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, this medal passage 23 has a passage space for one medal M to be taken up in an upright state, and is provided with an inclination of about 15 ° with respect to the thickness direction of the standing medal. ing.
[0043]
The inclination angle is set so that the opening / closing plate 22 is inclined downward, and the medals M that are rolled and conveyed in the medal passage 23 are conveyed while being inclined to the opening / closing plate 22 side of the inclination downward. As a result, when an inappropriate medal with a small diameter is inserted, only the bottom surface side is guided due to the small diameter in the medal passage 23 when passing rolling, and the top side does not contact the movable guide plate 31 and the top side is not guided. Roll as it is. For this reason, the medal starts to incline downward in the medal thickness direction by its own weight, and falls down to the discharge port 36 of the opening / closing plate 22 facing the lower side of the medal.
[0044]
In this way, by providing the medal passage 23 having a function of causing the medal in the rolling conveyance process to incline in the medal thickness direction by the own weight of the medal itself and lie down naturally, the small-diameter non-applicable medal M1 to be excluded can be accurately determined. It is possible to obtain a medal removal function that allows the player to tilt and to discharge.
[0045]
In addition, since the medal passage 23 accurately serves as an exclusion function, a medal intake / removal effect with high performance can be obtained with a simplified and simple configuration. As a result, since a complicated exclusion mechanism can be omitted, the number of parts can be reduced, and a throw-in medal selection device that can reduce costs can be realized.
[0046]
The inclination ratio in the medal thickness direction described above is suitably an inclination angle at which the sideways action of the medals rolling on the passage is naturally performed by the weight of the medals themselves. If the tilt angle is too small, the sideways action tends to be delayed, and if it is too large, the rolling load on an appropriate medal increases, so about 10 ° to 20 °, preferably about 15 ° is suitable. In the figure, reference numeral 38 denotes a medal tilt promotion protrusion in which a part of the rib is further protruded in the medal tilt direction.
[0047]
Further, it is configured as follows so that the inserted medal can be returned or the clogged foreign matter can be discharged also by the operation of the player. As shown in FIG. 7, when the player presses the return button 14, the return operation rotates the rotating cam 39 that is pivotally supported corresponding to the lower side of the pressed return button 14. Then, the tip of the rotating cam 39 moves so as to push the opening / closing plate 22, and in conjunction with this, the opening / closing plate 22 rotates about the shaft 34 to widely open the surface facing the U-shaped substrate 21. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate clogged medals and foreign objects from this open part.
[0048]
Furthermore, when the game hall preparation is not completed or the slot machine is not in operation, a reception restriction mechanism 40 that rejects acceptance and returns it to the return slot 13 even if the inserted medal is a regular medal is incorporated. is doing.
[0049]
The reception restricting mechanism 40 is provided with a shaft support portion 41 for pivotally supporting the movable guide plate 31 described above on the rear wall surface of the U-shaped substrate 21, and using the shaft support portion 41 as a common rotation fulcrum. In the state where the inverted L-shaped movable guide plate 31 is attached and the tip of the movable guide plate 31 faces the discharge port 36 side of the opening / closing plate 22 across the medal passage 23 from the back side of the U-shaped substrate 21. Interspersed for the top guide.
[0050]
The solenoid 42 disposed on the back side of the U-shaped substrate 21 is turned ON / OFF to move the movable guide plate 31 connected to the solenoid 42 via the tilting lever 43 in the vertical direction. Are switched to the medal acceptance restricted state and the medal acceptance state of the downward movement position.
[0051]
When the solenoid 42 described above is turned on, the exciting action is activated, and the tip of the movable guide plate 31 moves to the downward movement position for receiving and guiding the top of the medal along the medal passage 23, so that the medal is accepted. The medal passage 23 in the accepting state has a lower portion between the opposed surfaces of the opening / closing plate 22 and the U-shaped substrate 21 and a bottom plate 44 made of a metal material having excellent wear resistance and located between them. A groove is formed, and an upper part forms a concave groove for passing medal rolling between the opposed surfaces of the movable guide plate 31 and the U-shaped substrate 21.
[0052]
On the other hand, when the solenoid 42 is turned OFF, the return action of the return spring 45 attached to the tilt lever 43 works, so that the movable guide plate 31 is pulled in the groove opening direction via the tilt lever 43, and the shaft support portion 41 is moved. It turns to a fulcrum, and at this time one side of the upper concave groove forming the medal passage 23 is opened and the medal passage is opened for exclusion, and one medal has reached here. It is laid down one by one and eliminated.
[0053]
The two passage detection sensors S1 and S2 that detect the passage of medals have the same detection structure, and are arranged on the back side of the U-shaped substrate 21 corresponding to one side of the medal passage 23 to detect the structure. Is miniaturized.
[0054]
In the figure, L1 is an upper inclination line indicating the inclination start position in the medal thickness direction, L2 is a lower inclination line indicating the inclination end position in the medal thickness direction, P is a mounting pin of the U-shaped substrate 21, and K1 is a cover mounting engagement projection. Reference numeral K2 denotes a cover mounting engagement recess.
[0055]
Next, a medal receiving operation using the inserted medal sorting apparatus 20 configured as described above will be described.
Now, when the player inserts the medal M into the insertion slot 12 when the slot machine 11 is in an operating state, the inserted medal M is slightly inclined downward from the vertical path 23a as shown in FIG. At the position of the curved path R that continues to the inclined path 23b, the tip of the movable protrusion 27 that is biased and projected toward the curved path R is lightly pressed and descends while receiving the pressing and biasing action. For this reason, all the medals M guided here are brought close to the wall surface of the curved path R on the side of the opening / closing plate 22 in the medal thickness direction and are stably lowered one by one.
[0056]
In this case, the curved passage R requires a smooth passage of medals, so that a wide passage space is formed. However, a movable protrusion 27 is interposed at this position, and the movable protrusion 27 cuts one medal M. In order to fulfill the role of pressing and guiding as described above, even in a wide passage, it is possible to limit the medal passage area and eliminate the overlap of the medals and fluttering, and to take in the medals without clogging.
[0057]
Therefore, even if medals are continuously inserted, the movable projecting piece 27 can perform an operation of dividing the medals guided here one by one.
[0058]
In addition, the movable protrusion 27 can be decelerated and lowered because it makes a slight contact with a medal that descends vigorously immediately after being inserted. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the speed difference of medals whose direction is changed from the vertical path 23a to the inclined path 23b that rolls at a low speed by suppressing the vertical passing speed that descends at a high speed. For this reason, the medal M inserted into the insertion slot can be taken inward at a stable speed with little speed fluctuation suitable for taking in the medal. Further, in terms of detection performance, it is possible to accurately discriminate a medal having an appropriate size and a small-diameter non-applicable medal M1 to be excluded at a detection position.
[0059]
The number of images taken is counted by the passage detection sensors S1 and S2 near the outlet 26, and the counted value is transmitted to a control unit (not shown) for data management.
[0060]
Further, as shown in FIG. 8 (B), even if the player illegally tries to pull back the medal by using the thread-hanging medal, the movable projecting piece 27 at this time uses the pivot 29 as a pivotal fulcrum and moves in the horizontal direction. However, since it does not move in the vertical direction, it does not retract from the curved path R, and the upward movement of the medal is in a position-restricted state, so that it is possible to reliably prevent an illegal pull back operation using the thread hanging medal. .
[0061]
As described above, when the medal inserted into the insertion slot passes through the wide curved passage, it is lightly pressed by the movable protrusion and descends while receiving the pressing biasing action. All of them descend while receiving the passing guide function for one sheet, and even in a wide passage, it is possible to perform a taking-in operation that eliminates the clogging of medals by eliminating two overlapping medals and fluttering. Therefore, even if medals are continuously inserted, the movable projecting piece receives and guides the medals guided here so as to cut one piece of medals. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of swallowing medals due to erroneous counting.
[0062]
In correspondence between the configuration of the present invention and the configuration of the above-described embodiment,
The sorting guide means of the present invention corresponds to the movable guide plate 31 of the embodiment,
Similarly,
The inlet corresponds to the inlet 12,
The vertical medal introduction passage corresponds to the vertical passage 23a,
The inclined passage corresponds to the inclined passage 23b,
The medal acceptance guide means corresponds to the movable protrusion 27,
The biasing spring corresponds to the spring 28 for light load,
Although the wide curved passage corresponds to the curved passage R, the present invention can be applied based on the technical idea shown in the claims, and is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment.
[0063]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, since a medal receiving guide means is provided in the curved passage formed inside the insertion slot, a one-sheet taking-in guide function for stably taking in the inserted medals one by one can be obtained. In spite of its simple and simple structure, a high-performance medal acceptance effect can be obtained.
Further, the medal acceptance guide means is pushed by the medal when the medal descends and allows the medal to be retracted in the passage retracting direction, and when the medal inserted from the insertion port is pulled back upward, the medal receiving guide means moves in the passage retracting direction. Since the movement is restricted, even if an unauthorized player tries to pull the medal upward using the thread hanging medal, the medal receiving guide means is not retracted from the passage and the position is restricted. In this state, it is possible to reliably prevent an illegal pull-back operation using a thread hanging medal.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a slot machine of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view showing an inner surface state in which the front door of the inserted medal sorting device according to the present invention is opened.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a main part of the inserted medal sorting device according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a developed perspective view showing the inserted medal sorting device of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a rear view showing the driving side of the U-shaped substrate of the present invention.
6 is a side view showing a rib forming state of the opening / closing plate of the present invention. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a medal passage according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part showing a protruding state of the movable protruding piece of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of an essential part showing an example of a clogged medal state in a conventional inclined passage.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Slot machine 12 ... Insertion port 13 ... Return port 20 ... Insertion medal sorter 23a ... Vertical path 23b ... Inclination road 27 ... Movable protrusion 28 ... Spring for light load 31 ... Movable guide plate M ... Medal M1 ... Not applicable Medal R ... Curved passage

Claims (1)

Were selected size of medals inserted from the inlet, accept medal proper size, a projection entry token selecting apparatus provided with a sorting guide means for eliminating unsuitable size medal acids,
A vertical medal introduction passage for passing medals thrown from the entrance ,
And inclined oblique passage passing by inclined medals from the medal introduction passage in the medal thickness direction,
Connecting the medal introduction passage and the inclined passage and providing a curved passage that is wide and curved in the medal thickness direction ;
The curved passage is provided with a medal receiving guide means that protrudes from the front end of the curved passage and is biased toward the passage by a biasing spring.
The medal receiving guide means is pushed by the medal when the medal descends and allows the medal to be retracted in the passage retracting direction, and when the medal inserted from the entrance is pulled back upward, the medal receiving guide means moves in the passage retracting direction. you regulate the
Investment input medal sorting device.

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