JP4248012B2 - Medal selector and gaming machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a slot machine and a medal selector used therein.

  A gaming machine such as a slot machine allows a player to enjoy a game by inserting a predetermined number of medals into the gaming machine. The medals necessary for the game can be borrowed with a medal lending machine provided in the game hall, and the game can be started by inserting it into the medal slot of a desired gaming machine. The gaming machine is provided with a medal selector for discriminating inserted medals and counting the number of medals.

  This type of medal selector is provided with a downwardly inclined medal passage in which a medal inserted from a medal insertion slot rolls. A sensor (for example, a photo interrupter) for counting medals is provided in the vicinity of the exit of the medal passage, and the number of medals inserted here is counted. The medal selector of the current gaming machine is provided with two sensors, and medals are detected according to the detection order of the two sensors. When the number of inserted medals reaches a predetermined number, the game can be started. Additional medals are treated as credits.

  FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a conventional medal selector provided in the slot machine. FIG. 16A is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the conventional medal selector. 15 and FIG. 16A, 1 is a medal selector, 11 is a medal passage provided therein, 12 is a medal exit of the medal selector 1, and S1 and S2 are for detecting a medal provided in the medal passage 11. It is a photo interrupter. M indicates the inserted medal. The medal M inserted from the upper part of the medal selector 1 falls along the medal passage 11, the traveling direction thereof is changed to a slant sideways, and is discharged from the medal outlet 12. Note that irregular medals of different sizes fall in the middle of the medal passage and are sent to the medal return slot.

  In the vicinity of the medal outlet 12, two medal sensors S1, S2 are provided side by side along the direction in which the medal advances. FIG. 16B shows a timing chart of output signals of the sensors S1 and S2 when the medal M passes. The phase of the signal of the sensor S1 provided on the front side is more advanced than that of S2. The passage of medals sent without being blocked on the way is detected by the sensors S1, S2. Since two S1 and S2 are provided adjacent to each other, it is possible to detect the passing speed and passing direction of medals, and based on these, it is possible to detect not only the number of medals but also the backward flow of the medals and fraud. Further, by providing the medal sensors S1 and S2 on the side far from the medal entrance, it is difficult to cheat.

  A small part of the players performed a dishonest act (so-called goto act). For example, there is a person who tries to play a game without inserting a regular medal by inserting a foreign object from the medal slot and causing the sensor to malfunction. Actually, a method is adopted in which the two sensors S1 and S2 are reciprocated with a rod-shaped foreign object so as to be mistaken as if an actual medal has been inserted. For example, as shown in FIG. 16C, when a plate 91 (which may be collectively expressed as a foreign object) attached to the tip of a wire 90 is moved along the dotted path in FIG. , S2 outputs a waveform similar to that shown in FIG.

  In current gaming machines, medals are detected based on the detection order of the two sensors S1 and S2. As a fraudulent act, as described above, the two sensors S1 and S2 are reacted with the rod-shaped foreign matter 90 and 91, thereby making it misrecognize that a medal is actually inserted. Since the sensors S1 and S2 are arranged in the upper part, when returning the foreign matter 90 and 91, the backflow error is detected by lowering the foreign substances 90 and 91 to a place where the sensors S1 and S2 cannot be detected (the phases of S1 and S2 in FIG. 16B). Can be avoided).

  By the way, at the medal detection position in the medal passage, it is conceivable to provide a penetrating detection sensor that detects the passage of medals on the entire medal passage corresponding surface. That is, the entire medal passage correspondence surface is detected using a sensor configured by arranging a plurality of proximity switches or photoelectric sensors. If such a configuration is adopted, detection cannot be avoided regardless of how the foreign object for fraud is moved.

  A retractable moving member urged to close the medal passage and a sensor for detecting the moving member in the retracted position are provided, and an error may occur if the sensor continuously detects a predetermined time or more. Although possible, such a configuration results in hindering medal flow by contact with the moving member.

  If the entire medal passage corresponding surface is detected as described above, the sensors S1 and S2 can detect the foreign matter 90 and 91 as shown in FIG. Problem arises. That is, when a plurality of medals are inserted at a time and continuously flow down in the medal passage (refer to FIG. 5 and the description below), the sensor that detects the entire medal passage corresponding surface as described above. Outputs a detection signal continuously, which may be erroneously determined as the entry of foreign matter. That is, it is difficult to determine the intrusion of foreign objects and the continuous flow of medals.

  Further, if a physical shutter is provided in the medal passage by providing a retractable moving member that is biased so as to close the medal passage, the flow of medals is physically obstructed, which may cause clogging of medals. There is also a problem of becoming.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a medal selector and a gaming machine that can detect a fraudulent act as described above and suppress the fraudulent act without causing a malfunction such as a clogged medal.

The present invention is a medal selector that selects and sends out medals inserted from a medal insertion unit,
A medal passage for rolling medals from a medal insertion port to a medal discharge port, a sensor provided on the medal discharge port side of the medal passage for detecting a medal, and provided on the medal insertion port side of the sensor. A photoelectric shutter for detecting an object present in the medal path,
The photoelectric shutter is provided on one side in the vertical direction of the medal passage and irradiates light to the side surface of the medal flowing down the medal passage, and is provided on the same side as the light emitting portion, or the other And a plurality of reflecting means provided on both sides of the left and right side surfaces of the medal path and reflecting the light from the light emitting part to guide it to the light receiving part,
A path of light from the light emitting part to the light receiving part is spanned between the one side and the other side of the medal path by the reflecting means;
At least one of the reflecting means is provided in the vicinity of a point P where a plurality of medals that continuously flow down the medal passage pass, and at a substantially central height of the medal passing through the medal passage. And
The light path is prevented from passing through the point P by the reflecting means provided at the height of the approximate center of the medal.
One side and the other side of the medal passage mean left and right sides when viewed in a cross section of the medal passage with respect to a plane substantially perpendicular to the traveling direction of the medal rolling on the medal passage. The light emitting unit and the light receiving unit constitute a sensor that transmits and receives light across a space in the width direction of the medal passage.

The present invention is a medal selector that selects and sends out medals inserted from a medal insertion unit, and is provided on a medal passage for rolling medals from a medal insertion port to a medal discharge port, and on the medal discharge port side of the medal passage. And a sensor for detecting a medal, and a photoelectric shutter provided on the medal slot side than the sensor for detecting an object present in the medal path,
The photoelectric shutter includes a first optical element provided at an upper part on one side of the medal path, a second optical element provided at a lower part on the same side as the first optical element, and a vertical direction of the medal path. And an odd number of three or more reflecting means provided on both sides of the left and right side surfaces,
One of the first optical element and the second optical element is a light emitting element, and the other is a light receiving element, and the light emitted from the light emitting element is provided at least on the side facing the light emitting element. Reflected from the light emitting element, reflected by the reflecting means provided on the same side as the light emitting element, and further reflected by the reflecting means provided on the side facing the light emitting element. Light is input to the light receiving element across the one side and the other side of the medal path,
At least one of the reflecting means is provided in the vicinity of a point P where a plurality of medals that continuously flow down the medal passage pass, and at a substantially central height of the medal passing through the medal passage. And
The light from the light emitting element is prevented from passing through the point P by the reflecting means provided at a height approximately at the center of the medal.

The present invention is a medal selector that selects and sends out medals inserted from a medal insertion unit, and is provided on a medal passage for rolling medals from a medal insertion port to a medal discharge port, and on the medal discharge port side of the medal passage. And a sensor for detecting a medal, and a photoelectric shutter provided on the medal slot side than the sensor for detecting an object present in the medal path,
The photoelectric shutter includes a first optical element provided at an upper part on one side of the medal path, and a second optical element provided at a lower part on the other side so as to sandwich the medal path with the first optical element. And two or more even number of reflecting means provided on both sides of the left and right side surfaces in the vertical direction of the medal passage,
One of the first optical element and the second optical element is a light emitting element, and the other is a light receiving element, and the light emitted from the light emitting element is provided at least on the side facing the light emitting element. And reflected by the reflecting means provided on the same side as the light emitting element, so that light from the light emitting element spans between one side and the other side of the medal path. Is input to the light receiving element,
At least one of the reflecting means is provided in the vicinity of a point P where a plurality of medals that continuously flow down the medal passage pass, and at a substantially central height of the medal passing through the medal passage. And
The light from the light emitting element is prevented from passing through the point P by the reflecting means provided at a height approximately at the center of the medal.

The present invention is a medal selector that selects and sends out medals inserted from a medal insertion unit, and is provided on a medal passage for rolling medals from a medal insertion port to a medal discharge port, and on the medal discharge port side of the medal passage. And a sensor for detecting a medal, and a photoelectric shutter provided on the medal slot side than the sensor for detecting an object present in the medal path,
The photoelectric shutter includes a first optical element and a second optical element provided at one of an upper portion and a lower portion of the medal passage, and a plurality of reflections provided on both sides of the left and right side surfaces in the vertical direction of the medal passage. Means and end reflection means provided on the other of the upper part or the lower part of the medal passage,
One of the first optical element and the second optical element is a light emitting element, and the other is a light receiving element, and the light emitted from the light emitting element is provided at least on the side facing the light emitting element. When the light reaches the upper or lower part of the medal path, the light is reflected by the end reflecting means, and further reflected by the reflecting means provided on the side facing the light receiving element. The light from the element is input to the light receiving element across the one side and the other side of the medal path,
At least one of the reflecting means is provided in the vicinity of a point P where a plurality of medals that continuously flow down the medal passage pass, and at a substantially central height of the medal passing through the medal passage. And
The light from the light emitting element is prevented from passing through the point P by the reflecting means provided at a height approximately at the center of the medal.

  Preferably, at least one of the reflecting means is provided at a height substantially at the center of a medal passing through the medal passage (see point P in FIGS. 6 and 7).

  Further, the medal rolling on the medal passage is not close to the reflecting means provided at a substantially central height of the medal, so that the medal tread surface of the medal passage or the side of the medal passage on the reflecting means side. A protrusion may be provided.

  Further, the medal rolling on the medal passage is substantially perpendicular to the traveling direction of the medal rolling on the medal passage so that the medal rolling on the medal passage does not approach the reflecting means provided at a substantially central height of the medal. A section of the medal passage viewed from the insertion port side may be inclined to the side opposite to the reflecting means.

  Preferably, for at least one of the reflecting means, when an object made of a material that transmits light exists in the medal passage and the light is refracted by the object, the light does not reach the reflecting means. The reflecting means may be made small.

  A plurality of photoelectric shutters may be provided in parallel along the traveling direction of medals rolling in the medal path. In this case, with respect to a part of the plurality of photoelectric shutters, the arrangement of the light emitting unit, the light receiving unit, and the reflecting means may be opposite to the arrangement of the other photoelectric shutters.

The present invention is a medal selector that selects and sends out medals inserted from a medal insertion unit, and is provided on a medal passage for rolling medals from a medal insertion port to a medal discharge port, and on the medal discharge port side of the medal passage. And a first sensor and a second sensor for detecting medals,
The first sensor and the second sensor are provided on one side in the vertical direction of the medal path and emit light to the side of the medal flowing down the medal path, and are the same as the light emitting part A light receiving portion provided on the other side, or a plurality of reflecting means provided on both sides of the left and right side surfaces of the medal path to reflect light from the light emitting portion and guide it to the light receiving portion And
A path of light from the light emitting part to the light receiving part is spanned between the one side and the other side of the medal path by the reflecting means;
At least one of the reflecting means is provided in the vicinity of a point P where a plurality of medals that continuously flow down the medal passage pass, and at a substantially central height of the medal passing through the medal passage. And
The light path is prevented from passing through the point P by the reflecting means provided at the height of the approximate center of the medal.

The present invention provides a medal selector that selects and sends out medals inserted from a medal insertion unit, a sensor that is provided in the medal selector and detects medals inserted, and is provided closer to the medal insertion slot than the sensor. A gaming machine comprising a photoelectric shutter that detects an object present in the medal path and a control unit that counts the number of medals inserted based on the output of the sensor;
The photoelectric shutter is provided on one side in the vertical direction of the medal passage and irradiates light to the side surface of the medal flowing down the medal passage, and is provided on the same side as the light emitting portion, or the other And a plurality of reflecting means provided on both sides of the left and right side surfaces of the medal path and reflecting the light from the light emitting part to guide it to the light receiving part,
A path of light from the light emitting part to the light receiving part is spanned between the one side and the other side of the medal path by the reflecting means;
At least one of the reflecting means is provided in the vicinity of a point P where a plurality of medals that continuously flow down the medal passage pass, and at a substantially central height of the medal passing through the medal passage. And
The light path is prevented from passing through the point P by the reflecting means provided at the height of the approximate center of the medal.
The controller determines that there is a foreign object in the medal path when the photoelectric shutter continuously detects an object in the medal path for a time equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.

  The threshold is determined based on the time for one medal to pass through the photoelectric shutter.

  According to the present invention, the photoelectric shutter is provided upstream of the medal sensor, and the foreign matter in the medal passage is detected by detecting the foreign matter when it is detected continuously for a certain period of time or more, thereby preventing fraud. Can do.

Embodiment 1 of the Invention
A medal selector and a gaming machine (slot machine) including the medal selector according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a medal selector provided in the slot machine. In FIG. 1, 1 is a medal selector, 11 is a medal passage provided therein, 12 is a medal exit of the medal selector 1, S1 and S2 are photointerrupters (sensors for medal detection) provided in the medal passage 11, A photoelectric shutter 20 is provided upstream of the sensors S1 and S2, that is, on the medal insertion slot side, and detects an object in the medal passage 11. M indicates the inserted medal. The medal M inserted from the upper part of the medal selector 1 falls along the medal passage 11, the traveling direction thereof is changed to a slant sideways, and is discharged from the medal outlet 12. Note that irregular medals of different sizes fall in the middle of the medal passage and return to the medal return slot.

  Two medal sensors S1, S2 are provided in the vicinity of the medal outlet 12 along the direction of the medal. These are for counting the number of medals. The medal sensors S1 and S2 are, for example, photo interrupters that have a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion that face each other and are formed in a U-shaped cross section, and the detection optical axis faces the medal passage 11 from above. is there. The cross section may not be U-shaped, or only the light receiving part may be provided. Each photo interrupter detects the passage of a medal sent without being blocked on the way. The reason why two photo interrupters are adjacent is not only to detect the number of medals but also to monitor whether or not the passage of medals is normal. That is, by providing two photo interrupters adjacent to each other, it is possible to detect the passing speed and passing direction of medals, thereby detecting not only the number of medals but also an illegal act moving in the reverse direction. Further, by providing the medal sensors S1 and S2 on the side far from the medal entrance, it is difficult to cheat.

  The photoelectric shutter 20 is for detecting an object existing in the medal passage 11, that is, a medal and other foreign matters (for example, a stick 90 and a plate 91 for performing an illegal act). Since there is a difference in the signal output from the photoelectric shutter 11 depending on whether the detected object is a medal or a foreign object, the presence or absence of a foreign object is determined based on the output signal, and if it is a foreign object, error processing such as error notification is performed. Details thereof will be described later.

  FIG. 2 is a front view of the slot machine with the front door closed, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the slot machine with the front door opened 180 degrees.

  2 and 3, reference numeral 100 denotes a slot machine. As shown in FIG. 3, the slot machine 100 can be opened and closed by a hinge or the like on the slot machine main body 120 and one side of the front surface of the slot machine main body 120. And a front door 130 attached thereto. As shown in FIG. 2, a game display unit 131 is provided in the center of the front door 130, and a medal insertion slot 132 for a player to insert medals is provided at the lower right corner of the game display unit 131. Provided further below the medal insertion slot 132 is a reject button 133 for forcibly discharging a clogged medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 132 to the outside of the slot machine 100.

  A start switch 134 for starting a game is provided at the lower left of the game display unit 131, and a medal payout port 135 is provided at the center of the lower end of the front door. A bet switch 137 to replace medal insertion is provided above the start switch 134, and a cancel button 138 is provided on the left side of the start switch 134. When the cancel button 138 is pressed, the medal inserted from the medal slot 132 is returned to the payout slot 135.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the slot machine main body 120 is fixed to the inner bottom surface, stores a plurality of medals therein, and stores the stored medals at a payout port 135 provided on the front surface of the front door 130. A hopper device 121 for paying out the sheets one by one is installed. An upper portion of the hopper device 121 is provided with a hopper tank 122 that opens upward and stores a plurality of medals therein.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the medal (coin) selector 1 is attached to the back side of the front door 130 on the back side of the medal slot 132 provided on the front surface of the front door 130. This medal selector 1 rolls the medal toward the hopper device 121 while detecting the passage of the medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 132, and has a different diameter medal or iron or iron whose outer diameter is different from the predetermined dimension. This is an apparatus for selecting and removing illegal medals made of an alloy and selecting and eliminating a predetermined number or more of medals that can be inserted per game.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a lead-out path 136 that covers the lower side and communicates with the payout port 135 of the front door 130 is provided below the medal selector 1. The medals distributed by the medal selector 1 are returned to the player from the payout port 135 via the derivation path 136.

  A player who wants to enjoy a game with a slot machine can first borrow a medal as a game medium from a medal lending machine (not shown) or the like, and insert a medal directly into the medal slot 132 of the medal slot device. A square window-like display window facing the player side is formed at the center and upper part of the casing of the slot machine. In the center of the central display window, a symbol display window through which the symbols of the three rotating reels can be seen is formed. The start switch 134 is a lever located obliquely below the rotating reel, and starts driving the reel unit on condition that a game medal is inserted. The reel unit is stopped from being driven by a stop switch. The reel unit is composed of three rotating reels. Each rotating reel includes a rotating drum made of a synthetic resin and a tape-like reel tape attached around the rotating drum. A plurality of (for example, 21) symbols are displayed on the outer peripheral surface of the reel tape.

  FIG. 4 shows a functional block diagram of the slot machine. Reference numerals 200 and 201 denote a main board and a sub board, each incorporating a CPU, ROM, and RAM. The main board 200 performs medal insertion, payout, reel control, winning process, and the like. The sub-board 201 performs processing such as effect display. An operation unit 202 includes switches such as a start switch 134, a stop switch, and a bet switch. A reel unit 203 includes three rotating reels. An effect display unit 204 includes a game display unit 131, internal illumination of a reel, a liquid crystal display device, a speaker, and the like. The effect display unit 204 notifies the winning combination and the pressing order.

  Next, a photoelectric shutter according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5 is a plan view of the photoelectric shutter 20 viewed from a direction perpendicular to the side surface of the medal M. The figure is schematic, and the curved portion of the actual medal passage 11 and the medal outlet 12 are not shown. The display of sensors S1 and S2 is also omitted. The figure shows a state in which a plurality of medals M continuously flow down the medal passage 11. As described above, even when the medals M are in contact with each other at the point P in the drawing and flow down without any gap, the photoelectric shutter 20 can discriminate medals one by one. Incidentally, it was impossible to discriminate each medal by the conventional method described above.

  The reason why the medal can be determined one by one even when the plurality of medals M continuously flow down by the photoelectric shutter 20 according to the first embodiment of the invention will be described.

  FIG. 6 shows the photoelectric shutter 20 of FIG. 5 cut along the line AA and viewed in the direction of the arrow, that is, the photoelectric shutter is cut along a plane perpendicular to the advancing direction of the medal M rolling on the medal path 11. It is sectional drawing when seeing an upstream. The photoelectric shutter 20 is provided on one side of the upper part of the medal path 11 (the left side wall of the medal path 11 in FIG. 6) and emits light toward the side surface of the medal M flowing down the medal path 11 or the like. 21, a light receiving unit 22 such as a photodiode provided below the medal passage 11 on the same side as the light emitting unit 21, and the medal passage 11 on both sides of the medal passage 11. Are provided with a plurality of reflecting means (mirrors) 23a to 23c that reflect and guide the light to the light receiving unit 22. The positions of the light emitting unit 21 and the light receiving unit 22 may be reversed.

  By reflecting the light with the reflecting means 23a to 23c, the light path from the light emitting part 21 to the light receiving part 22 is transferred between one side and the other side of the medal path 11 (in FIG. 6). The light is reciprocating twice: L1 to L4). When light is blocked by an object at any one point in the light path, the light from the light emitting unit 21 does not reach the light receiving unit 22. Therefore, by monitoring the output signal of the light receiving unit 22, it can be known that an object exists at any one of the four positions (L1 to L4) of the medal path 11.

  FIG. 6 shows a case where a medal M is present as an object in the medal path 11. At this time, since light is blocked at all positions L 1 to L 4, an object exists in the medal path 11 based on the output signal of the light receiving unit 22. You can know what to do.

  When the foreign objects 90 and 91 are inserted into the medal path 11, the foreign objects 90 and 91 are considered to block light at any of positions L1 to L4. You can know that an object exists. If the foreign objects 90 and 91 are very thin, the light may not be blocked. However, since the foreign objects 90 and 91 are moved when performing an illegal act, the possibility of blocking the light at any timing is sufficient. It can be said that In order to detect foreign matter more reliably, the number of reflecting means 23 may be increased so that the light path reciprocates in the medal path 11 many times.

  The photoelectric shutter 20 shown in FIG. 6 can discriminate medals one by one even when the medals M are in contact with each other at the point P in the drawing and flow down without a gap as shown in FIG. This is because the reflecting means 23 is arranged so that light does not pass through the point P. Since the medal M is circular, the contact portion between medals is limited to the point P. Therefore, if the light path is set avoiding the point P, even when the medal M flows down continuously, the light may reach the light receiving unit 22 between the medal and the medal. On the other hand, since the foreign objects 90 and 91 for performing fraud are long objects, the light may be blocked for a longer time than a medal.

  In the photoelectric shutter 20 of FIG. 6, the following configuration is adopted in order to set the light path while avoiding the point P.

(1) The number of reflecting means (mirrors) 23 is an odd number, and one of them (23b in FIG. 6) is provided at a height position substantially at the center of the medal M. If it is provided at this position, the light path always avoids the point P.

(2) A guide protrusion 24 is provided on the tread (lower surface) of the medal in the medal passage 11 so that the medal M rolling on the medal passage 11 does not approach the reflecting means 23b provided at a substantially central height of the medal. It was. In FIG. 6, the medal M flows down the right side of the guide protrusion 24. Instead of or together with the guide protrusion 24, the guide protrusion 25 may be provided on the side surface of the medal passage 11 on the reflecting means 23b side.

(3) A surface substantially perpendicular to the advancing direction of the medal rolling on the medal passage 11 so that the medal M rolling on the medal passage 11 does not approach the reflecting means 23b provided at a substantially central height of the medal. The cross section of the medal passage with respect to was inclined to the opposite side to the reflecting means 23b (inclined to the right side in FIG. 6). By tilting in this way, the medal M moves in a direction away from the reflecting means 23b by its own weight.

  It should be noted that the approach of the medal M toward the reflecting means 23a, 23c has no problem with respect to determining each medal one by one when a plurality of medals flow down without gaps.

  Although FIG. 6 shows the case where the number of the reflection means 23 is an odd number and the light emitting part 21 and the light receiving part 22 are provided on the same side, Embodiment 1 of the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. FIGS. 7A and 7B show other configuration examples.

  7 (a) and 7 (b), the photoelectric shutter is cut along a plane perpendicular to the traveling direction of the medal M rolling on the medal passage 11 when the light emitting unit 21 is on one side (more precisely, the upstream side is seen. An example in which the light receiving unit 22 is provided on the other side (same as the right side) so as to sandwich the medal passage 11 between the light emitting unit 21 and the light receiving unit 22 is shown. 7A and 7B, the number of the reflection means 23 is an even number. Even in these cases, the following configuration can be employed to set the light path while avoiding the point P.

(1 ') Any one of the reflecting means 23 (reflecting means 23e in FIG. 7A, reflecting means 23h in FIG. 7B) is provided at the position of point P at the substantially center height of the medal.

(2) Provide the same guide projection as in FIG.

(3) As in the case of FIG. 6, the cross section of the medal passage 11 is inclined to the opposite side of the reflecting means 23b provided at the point P of the approximate center height of the medal.

  The detection when the foreign matters 90 and 91 are transparent will be described with reference to FIG. When the foreign matters 90 and 91 are transparent objects (such as acrylic resin), the light is not shielded. However, even in this case, refraction occurs when light passes through the foreign substances 90 and 91, and the light path changes. For example, as shown in FIG. 7C, the light path L2 becomes L2 '. Therefore, the size of the reflecting means 23b is reduced so that the light cannot reach the reflecting means 23b when the light path changes. Then, even when a transparent object exists, the light does not reach the light receiving unit 22, and the same effect as when the light is blocked is obtained.

  In addition, both the light emission part 21 and the light-receiving part 22 can also be provided in the upper part or the lower part. That is, as shown in FIGS. 7 (d) and 8, another row of reflecting means 23a to 23c arranged vertically is opposed to or adjacent to the passage (reflection means 23a 'to 23c ′) and reflecting means (end reflecting means) 23j for reflecting the light reaching the upper or lower part are provided, and the light from the reflecting means 23a to 23c is sent to the reflecting means 23a ′ to 23c ′ by the reflecting means 23j. To do.

  FIG. 7D shows an example in which the reflecting means 23a to 23c and the reflecting means 23a ′ to 23c ′ are arranged so as to sandwich the medal path 11, and FIG. 8 shows the reflecting means 23a to 23c and the reflecting means 23a. An example in which 'to 23c' are arranged adjacent to each other is shown. When the reflecting means 23a to 23c and the reflecting means 23a ′ to 23c ′ are arranged in line symmetry as shown in FIG. 7D, the number of times that the light path reciprocates the medal path 11 is increased. As a result, the light path Can be arranged more densely, and foreign matter can be reliably detected.

Next, processing for determining foreign matter using the photoelectric shutter 20 will be described.
First, the output signal of the photoelectric shutter 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9A shows a case where one medal M flows down the medal passage 11, and FIG. 9B shows a case where foreign objects 90 and 91 are inserted into the medal passage 11.

  In the case of FIG. 9A, the output signal of the photoelectric shutter 20 is as shown in FIG. While one medal M passes through the photoelectric shutter 20, the signal is detected only (TM). The detection time TM is determined by the flow rate of medals, and if the speed is low, the detection time becomes longer, but usually the flow rate of medals is more than a certain value, so the maximum detection time (which exceeds all medals) No detection time) can be defined. Although the flow rate of the medals does not necessarily decrease significantly, in such a case, it is considered that the medals are clogged.

  When a plurality of medals flow down continuously as shown in FIG. 5, the output signal of the photoelectric shutter 20 is as shown in FIG. In the photoelectric shutter 20 according to the first embodiment of the invention, since the reflecting means 23 is arranged so that light does not pass through the point P which is a contact point between medals, even when the medals M continuously flow down. Arrives at the light receiving unit 22. Therefore, there is a gap between TM and TM that are medal detection signals. In FIG. 10B as well, the maximum detection time can be defined for the medal detection time TM.

  When foreign objects 90 and 91 are present as shown in FIG. 9B, the output signal of the photoelectric shutter 20 is as shown in FIG. In this case, there is no upper limit of detection time. Therefore, when an object is detected beyond the maximum detection time, it can be determined that the object is a foreign object. Of course, it is conceivable that the detection time is short because the foreign objects 90 and 91 move, but it is considered that the foreign objects 90 and 91 have been inserted into the medal passage 11 for a certain time or more when actually performing an illegal act. It is considered that there is no practical problem even with the above-described method.

  Based on the above, the processing of FIG. 11 is performed in the first embodiment of the invention. For example, the processing program of FIG. 11 is stored in the ROM of the main board 200 and is executed by the CPU of the main board 200. The process includes a process for detecting an object (FIG. 11A) and a process for determining whether the object is a foreign object (FIG. 11B).

  In FIG. 11A, the CPU monitors the output of the photoelectric shutter 20 (S1). When an object is detected by the photoelectric shutter 20, that is, when the output signal exists, a timer (not shown) is set and the duration of the output signal is set. Is started (YES in S2, S3). The timer keeps time by the timer set. Otherwise, the timer is reset (NO in S2, S4).

  In FIG. 11B, the output of the timer is compared with a predetermined threshold value (S10). The threshold value corresponds to TM in FIG. The TM in FIG. 10 is obtained, for example, by dividing the medal diameter by the minimum value of the normal medal passing speed. The threshold value is the same as or slightly larger than the TM thus obtained. If the difference between the threshold value and the TM is increased, the probability of erroneously determining a medal as a foreign object is reduced. When the timer output does not exceed the threshold value, the foreign substance determination process is terminated and the process returns to other processes (NO in S11). When the timer output exceeds the threshold, it is determined as a foreign object and error processing is performed (YES in S11, S12).

  As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the photoelectric shutter can be provided upstream of the medal sensor, and the fraud can be prevented by performing the error processing when the detection is continuously performed for a predetermined time or more. .

  In the conventional method, the medal detection state continues continuously when successive medals flow down, and it is difficult to discriminate between the entry of foreign matter and the flow of continuous medals. In addition, when a physical shutter is provided, there is a problem in that the flow of medals is physically hindered and medals are clogged. On the other hand, according to the first embodiment of the invention, the configuration is such that light is reflected while avoiding the P point which is a contact point between consecutive medals (in other words, a height position corresponding to the center of the medals). Therefore, the medal detection time is always equal to the time required for one medal to pass through the photoelectric sensor even when successive medals flow down, and can be determined as a foreign object when the medal detection is longer than the time. It becomes like this. The photoelectric shutter according to the first embodiment of the present invention has the advantages that it requires less installation space and does not hinder the flow of medals compared to a physical shutter such as a mechanical switch.

Modification of Embodiment 1 of the Invention.
Furthermore, if two photoelectric shutters are arranged in parallel, a higher fraud prevention function can be exhibited. FIG. 12 shows a medal selector provided with two photoelectric shutters 20-1 and 20-2. If the processing of FIG. 11 is executed for each of these two photoelectric shutters, a foreign object can be detected. Alternatively, the logical sum of the outputs of the two photoelectric shutters may be obtained, and a signal may be output when an object is detected on one of the two, and the processing of FIG. 11 may be executed based on this signal.

  When two photoelectric shutters are arranged, the same structure may be arranged, but the arrangement of the light emitting unit 21, the light receiving unit 22, and the reflecting means 23 may be reversed for one (for example, FIGS. 13A and 13B). )). In this way, the two photoelectric shutters have light paths that are symmetrical with respect to each other, so that the light paths can be arranged more densely and the number of times that the light paths reciprocate the medal path 11 is increased. Thus, foreign matters can be reliably detected. FIG. 13C shows an example of such a light path. In this figure, the light path L in FIG. 13A and the light path L ′ in FIG. 13B are combined.

Embodiment 2 of the Invention
In the first embodiment of the present invention, a photoelectric shutter is provided to detect foreign matter, but the photoelectric shutter can also be used as the medal sensors S1 and S2. A medal selector using the photoelectric shutter according to the embodiment of the present invention as the medal sensors S1 and S2 is shown in FIG. The configuration of the photoelectric shutter is the same as that shown in FIG.

  As with the conventional case, the medal selector according to the second embodiment of the invention can count the number of medals and detect the backflow. Furthermore, foreign matter can also be detected as in the first embodiment of the invention.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

It is a perspective view of the medal selector which concerns on Embodiment 1 of invention. It is a front view showing the appearance of the slot machine. It is a front view when the front door of the slot machine is opened. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the slot machine according to Embodiment 1 of the invention. It is a top view which shows arrangement | positioning of the photoelectric shutter which concerns on Embodiment 1 of invention. It is sectional drawing of the photoelectric shutter which concerns on Embodiment 1 of invention. It is a figure which shows the other structural example of the photoelectric shutter which concerns on Embodiment 1 of invention. It is a figure which shows the other structural example of the photoelectric shutter which concerns on Embodiment 1 of invention. 8A is a plan view of the photoelectric shutter, and FIGS. 8B and 8C are cross-sectional views. It is explanatory drawing of the detection operation by Embodiment 1 of invention. It is a timing chart of the output signal of the photoelectric shutter which concerns on Embodiment 1 of invention. It is a flowchart of the foreign material determination process using the photoelectric shutter which concerns on Embodiment 1 of invention. It is a perspective view of the medal selector which concerns on the modification of Embodiment 1 of invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the photoelectric shutter which concerns on the modification of Embodiment 1 of invention. It is a perspective view of the medal selector which concerns on Embodiment 2 of invention. It is a perspective view of the conventional medal selector. It is explanatory drawing of the conventional medal detection operation.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Medal selector 11 Medal passage 12 Medal exit 20 Photoelectric shutter 21 Light emitting part 22 Light receiving part 23 Reflecting means 24 Guide protrusion 25 Guide protrusion 90 Bar 91 used for fraud 101 Plate used for fraud 100 Slot machine 120 Slot machine body 121 Hopper Device 122 Hopper tank 130 Front door 131 Game display unit 132 Medal insertion port 133 Reject button 134 Start button 135 Discharge port 136 Derivation path 200 Main board 201 Sub board 202 Operation unit 203 Reel unit 204 Production display unit S1, S2 Medal sensor (photo interrupter) )

Claims (12)

A medal selector that selects and sends out medals inserted from a medal insertion unit,
A medal passage for rolling medals from a medal insertion port to a medal discharge port, a sensor provided on the medal discharge port side of the medal passage for detecting a medal, and provided on the medal insertion port side of the sensor. A photoelectric shutter for detecting an object present in the medal path,
The photoelectric shutter is provided on one side in the vertical direction of the medal passage and irradiates light to the side surface of the medal flowing down the medal passage, and is provided on the same side as the light emitting portion, or the other And a plurality of reflecting means provided on both sides of the left and right side surfaces of the medal path and reflecting the light from the light emitting part to guide it to the light receiving part,
A path of light from the light emitting part to the light receiving part is spanned between the one side and the other side of the medal path by the reflecting means ;
At least one of the reflecting means is provided in the vicinity of a point P where a plurality of medals that continuously flow down the medal passage pass, and at a substantially central height of the medal passing through the medal passage. And
The medal selector , wherein the light path is prevented from passing through the point P by the reflecting means provided at a substantially central height of the medal. A medal selector for selecting and sending out medals inserted from a medal insertion unit, a medal passage for rolling medals from a medal insertion port to a medal discharge port, and a medal provided on the medal discharge port side of the medal passage A sensor for detecting, and a photoelectric shutter that is provided closer to the medal slot than the sensor and detects an object present in the medal path,
The photoelectric shutter includes a first optical element provided at an upper part on one side of the medal path, a second optical element provided at a lower part on the same side as the first optical element, and a vertical direction of the medal path. And an odd number of three or more reflecting means provided on both sides of the left and right side surfaces,
One of the first optical element and the second optical element is a light emitting element, and the other is a light receiving element, and the light emitted from the light emitting element is provided at least on the side facing the light emitting element. Reflected from the light emitting element, reflected by the reflecting means provided on the same side as the light emitting element, and further reflected by the reflecting means provided on the side facing the light emitting element . Light is input to the light receiving element across the one side and the other side of the medal path ,
At least one of the reflecting means is provided in the vicinity of a point P where a plurality of medals that continuously flow down the medal passage pass, and at a substantially central height of the medal passing through the medal passage. And
The medal selector , wherein the light from the light emitting element is prevented from passing through the point P by the reflecting means provided at a substantially central height of the medal. A medal selector for selecting and sending out medals inserted from a medal insertion unit, a medal passage for rolling medals from a medal insertion port to a medal discharge port, and a medal provided on the medal discharge port side of the medal passage A sensor for detecting, and a photoelectric shutter that is provided closer to the medal slot than the sensor and detects an object present in the medal path,
The photoelectric shutter includes a first optical element provided at an upper part on one side of the medal path, and a second optical element provided at a lower part on the other side so as to sandwich the medal path with the first optical element. And two or more even number of reflecting means provided on both sides of the left and right side surfaces in the vertical direction of the medal passage,
One of the first optical element and the second optical element is a light emitting element, and the other is a light receiving element, and the light emitted from the light emitting element is provided at least on the side facing the light emitting element. And reflected by the reflecting means provided on the same side as the light emitting element, so that light from the light emitting element spans between one side and the other side of the medal path. Is input to the light receiving element ,
At least one of the reflecting means is provided in the vicinity of a point P where a plurality of medals that continuously flow down the medal passage pass, and at a substantially central height of the medal passing through the medal passage. And
The medal selector , wherein the light from the light emitting element is prevented from passing through the point P by the reflecting means provided at a substantially central height of the medal. A medal selector for selecting and sending out medals inserted from a medal insertion unit, a medal passage for rolling medals from a medal insertion port to a medal discharge port, and a medal provided on the medal discharge port side of the medal passage A sensor for detecting, and a photoelectric shutter that is provided closer to the medal slot than the sensor and detects an object present in the medal path,
The photoelectric shutter includes a first optical element and a second optical element provided at one of an upper portion and a lower portion of the medal passage, and a plurality of reflections provided on both sides of the left and right side surfaces in the vertical direction of the medal passage. Means and end reflection means provided on the other of the upper part or the lower part of the medal passage,
One of the first optical element and the second optical element is a light emitting element, and the other is a light receiving element, and the light emitted from the light emitting element is provided at least on the side facing the light emitting element. When the light reaches the upper or lower part of the medal path, the light is reflected by the end reflecting means, and further reflected by the reflecting means provided on the side facing the light receiving element. are those light from the device is inputted to the photodetection element spanned between the one side and the other side of the medal passage,
At least one of the reflecting means is provided in the vicinity of a point P where a plurality of medals that continuously flow down the medal passage pass, and at a substantially central height of the medal passing through the medal passage. And
The medal selector , wherein the light from the light emitting element is prevented from passing through the point P by the reflecting means provided at a substantially central height of the medal.   A protrusion is formed on the tread surface of the medal path or on the side of the medal path on the reflecting means side so that the medal rolling on the medal path does not approach the reflecting means provided at a substantially central height of the medal. 5. The medal selector according to claim 1, wherein the medal selector is provided.   The medal insertion slot on a surface substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the medal rolling in the medal path so that the medal rolling in the medal path does not approach the reflecting means provided at a substantially central height of the medal. 5. The medal selector according to claim 1, wherein a cross section of the medal passage viewed from the side is inclined to the side opposite to the reflecting means.   For at least one of the reflecting means, an object made of a material that transmits light is present in the medal path so that the light does not reach the reflecting means when light is refracted by the object. 5. The medal selector according to claim 1, wherein the means is made smaller.   The medal selector according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a plurality of the photoelectric shutters are provided in parallel along a traveling direction of medals rolling in the medal passage.   9. The medal selector according to claim 8, wherein, for a part of the plurality of photoelectric shutters, the arrangement of the light emitting unit, the light receiving unit, and the reflecting unit is opposite to that of other photoelectric shutters. A medal selector for selecting and sending out medals inserted from a medal insertion unit, a medal passage for rolling medals from a medal insertion port to a medal discharge port, and a medal provided on the medal discharge port side of the medal passage A first sensor and a second sensor to detect,
The first sensor and the second sensor are provided on one side in the vertical direction of the medal path and emit light to the side of the medal flowing down the medal path, and are the same as the light emitting part A light receiving portion provided on the other side, or a plurality of reflecting means provided on both sides of the left and right side surfaces of the medal path to reflect light from the light emitting portion and guide it to the light receiving portion And
All SANYO pass over the path of the light from the light emitting portion to the light receiving portion by the reflecting means between the one side and the other side of the medal passage,
At least one of the reflecting means is provided in the vicinity of a point P where a plurality of medals that continuously flow down the medal passage pass, and at a substantially central height of the medal passing through the medal passage. And
The medal selector , wherein the light path is prevented from passing through the point P by the reflecting means provided at a substantially central height of the medal. A medal selector that selects and sends out medals inserted from the medal insertion unit, a sensor that is provided in the medal selector to detect the inserted medals, and the medal passage that is provided closer to the medal insertion slot than the sensor. In a gaming machine comprising a photoelectric shutter for detecting an object existing in the control unit and a control unit for counting the number of medals inserted based on the output of the sensor,
The photoelectric shutter is provided on one side in the vertical direction of the medal passage and irradiates light to the side surface of the medal flowing down the medal passage, and is provided on the same side as the light emitting portion, or the other And a plurality of reflecting means provided on both sides of the left and right side surfaces of the medal path and reflecting the light from the light emitting part to guide it to the light receiving part,
A path of light from the light emitting part to the light receiving part is spanned between the one side and the other side of the medal path by the reflecting means;
At least one of the reflecting means is provided in the vicinity of a point P where a plurality of medals that continuously flow down the medal passage pass, and at a substantially central height of the medal passing through the medal passage. And
The light path is prevented from passing through the point P by the reflecting means provided at the height of the approximate center of the medal.
The gaming machine is characterized in that when the photoelectric shutter continuously detects an object in the medal path for a time equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, it is determined that a foreign object exists in the medal path.   The gaming machine according to claim 11, wherein the threshold is determined based on a time for one medal to pass through the photoelectric shutter.

Images