JP4473746B2 - Game machine medal dispensing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a medal payout device for a gaming machine such as a slot machine.

  A gaming machine such as a general slot machine includes a start switch for starting rotation of three reels having a plurality of symbols drawn on the outer peripheral surface, and three stop switches corresponding to each reel. After three medals have been inserted, the three reels start rotating by operating the start switch, and a lottery for determining the winning mode is performed. Then, when the player sequentially operates the stop switch corresponding to each reel, the rotation of the corresponding reel is stopped. When a predetermined winning mode is won by the lottery, the symbol corresponding to the winning mode is displayed. Reel stop control is performed so that the combinations are easy to align, and when the combination of symbols stops on one or more winning lines activated according to the number of medals inserted, it is preset according to the winning mode. A predetermined number of medals are paid out to the tray (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). The gaming machine described in Patent Document 1 includes a hopper unit that ejects medals accommodated in a hopper one by one by an urging member as a medal payout device. In such a gaming machine, the medal flipped by the biasing member may jump out of the tray. Therefore, in the gaming machine described in Patent Document 2, a splash prevention member is provided at the payout port so that the paid out medals do not jump out of the tray.

JP 2002-143391 A (paragraph [0033], FIG. 3) JP 2002-306664 A (FIG. 2)

  However, since the anti-scattering member is separately provided in the conventional gaming machine described in Patent Document 2, the apparatus configuration is complicated due to an increase in the number of parts.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a medal payout device for a gaming machine that prevents a medal from jumping out with a simple configuration.

In order to achieve the above object, a medal payout device for a gaming machine according to the present invention is a medal payout device for a gaming machine that pays out medals to a tray through a payout opening formed on the front surface of the housing. A hopper unit that pops out, a cover member made of a synthetic resin having a U-shaped cross section with the front side open, a metal plate member that closes a region excluding the lower end portion on the front side of the cover member, and communicated with the hopper unit An upper opening that communicates with the payout port, and a passage forming member that forms a medal guide passage that guides a medal that is ejected from the hopper unit and enters through the upper opening to the lower opening. wherein the cover member, said guide being after the upper opening a forms a surface side to form a passage, obliquely toward the upper opening from an upper end An upper half extending in the direction and a lower half extending vertically downward from the lower end of the upper half toward the payout port, and the upper opening is formed in the upper portion of the lower half, The front side of the lower half is closed by the plate member except for the lower end on the front side of the cover member, and the lower opening is guided by the lower end of the plate member and the lower end of the cover member. Folding is formed in a part of the front side of the passage so as to face the payout opening, and a lower end portion of the plate member forming the upper side of the lower opening of the passage forming member is bent in a vertical cross section. A curved portion is formed to protrude from the guide passage (claim 1).

In addition, the plate member includes an inclined portion whose upper end portion is obliquely bent toward the front surface, and the inclined portion is formed in the lower opening when a medal that passes through the upper half of the cover member collides. It may be formed so as to guide the medal toward the (claim 2).

In order to achieve the above object, medal payout device of the gaming machine according to the present invention, the medal payout device of the gaming machine to pay out medals to pan through the payout opening formed in the housing front, the medal 1 A hopper unit that flips one by one, an upper opening that communicates with the hopper unit, and a lower opening that communicates with the payout port, and a medal that is ejected from the hopper unit and enters through the upper opening is guided to the lower opening. A passage forming member that forms a guide passage, wherein the upper opening is formed in a part of the passage forming member that forms a rear surface side of the guide passage, and the lower opening forms a front surface side of the guide passage. It is formed in a part of the passage forming member so as to face the payout port, and is bent in a vertical cross-sectional shape on the upper side of the lower opening of the passage forming member. Song portion, and wherein the protruding amount to the guide passage is formed to protrude into the guide passage differently by left and right positions (claim 3).

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the medal that has entered through the upper opening communicating with the hopper unit is guided to the lower opening communicating with the payout opening by the medal guide passage formed by the passage forming member. Since the bent portion is formed on the upper side of the lower opening so as to protrude into the guide passage, the medal that has dropped the guide passage collides with at least one of the bent portion and the passage forming member other than the bent portion, Since the medals ejected from the hopper unit bounces directly to the saucer and jumps out of the saucer without coming into contact with the passage forming member because it is discharged from the payout opening through the lower opening, a bent portion is formed. This can be reliably prevented with only a simple configuration. Further, since the bent portion is bent in a vertical cross-sectional shape, durability against medal collision can be improved. Moreover, since the area | region except the lower end part of the front side of the U-shaped cover member by which the front side was open | released is obstruct | occluded with the metal plate member, the strength of a channel | path formation member is ensured with this metal plate member. can do. Moreover, since the lower opening is formed by the lower end portion of the plate member and the lower end portion of the cover member, and the bent portion is formed at the lower end portion of the metal plate member, the strength of the bent portion with respect to the collision of medals is increased. Can be secured.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the medal dropped on the upper half of the cover member collides with the inclined portion of the plate member and is guided toward the lower opening. The medal guide path is formed by the metal plate member. The strength of the can be ensured.

  Further, according to the invention of claim 3, since the bent portion is formed so that the protruding amount to the guide passage is different in the left and right positions, for example, based on the ballistic characteristics of the medal that is flipped out from the hopper unit, the lower opening By increasing the protruding amount of the portion that is likely to jump out directly from the medals, it is possible to more reliably prevent the medal from jumping out from the tray.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a slot machine provided with an embodiment of a medal payout device for a gaming machine according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a right side view showing an internal configuration of a main part of the slot machine. The slot machine 1 is configured as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example. That is, in the slot machine 1, the front surface of the housing 3 is closed by the front panel 5 so as to be freely opened and closed, and the operation plate 7 is disposed at a substantially central height position of the front panel 5. A front plate 9 is disposed above the front plate 9.

  The front plate 9 is provided with a horizontally long display window 11. Inside the display window 11, a reel unit 43 including left, middle, and right reels 13L, 13M, and 13R each having a plurality of symbols displayed on its peripheral surface is disposed. The 13M and 13R symbols are set so as to be looked at in the upper, middle and lower stages. Further, the operation panel 7 has a bet switch 15 for instructing the insertion of one medal from the credit medals stored inside, and the maximum number of medals per game (for example, three) from the credit medals. A maximum bet switch 17 for instructing the rotation, a lever-shaped start switch 19 for starting the rotation of each reel, and the left, middle and right for stopping the rotation of the left, middle and right reels 13L, 13M and 13R, respectively. Stop switches 21L, 21M, and 21R, a settlement switch 23 for paying out credit medals, and a medal slot 25 are provided.

  In addition, a liquid crystal display 27 for displaying a moving image or the like is provided in the approximate center above the front plate 9, and various winning symbols are displayed immediately above the liquid crystal display 27. An explanation panel 29 is provided, and speakers 31L and 31R are provided on the left and right sides of the liquid crystal display 27 and the explanation panel 29, respectively, for performing effects by music. A central lamp portion 33M is disposed on the upper side of the explanation panel 29 and the speakers 31L and 31R, and left and right lamp portions 33L and 33R are disposed on the left and right sides thereof. Each lamp unit 33M, 33L, 33R is provided with a light source such as a light emitting diode. These lamp portions 33M, 33L, and 33R are integrally formed, and constitute an upper lamp portion 33 for performing effects such as notifying a player of winning and winning.

  In addition, a lower panel 35 on which a decorative image or the like is displayed is provided below the operation panel 7. A lower lamp unit in which a plurality of light sources are arranged in, for example, two rows on the left and right sides of the lower panel 35. 37L and 37R are provided. Also, below the lower panel 35, a medal payout opening 39 is provided at a substantially central position of the housing 3 in the left-right direction, and a medal receiver for receiving a medal to be paid out from the payout opening 39 (the “receiving tray” of the present invention). 41) is provided. A hopper unit 45 for discharging medals to the payout opening 39 is disposed below the reel unit 43 inside the housing 3.

  In addition, a medal selector 47 for determining whether or not the medal is a regular medal is disposed immediately inside the medal slot 25. When the medal inserted into the medal slot 25 is determined as a regular medal by the medal selector 47, the medal selector 47 guides the medal to the guide piece 49 and guides the guide piece 49 to the hopper tank of the hopper unit 45. It falls into 451. On the other hand, a medal that has not been determined to be a regular medal by the medal selector 47, a maximum number of credit medals stored (for example, 50) and a maximum number of coins to be inserted per game (for example, 3) even if the medal is determined to be a regular medal The medals inserted in excess of the total number are not guided to the guide piece 49 by the medal selector 47, fall within the medal chute 51 described in detail below, and are discharged from the payout opening 39 to the medal receiver 41.

  FIG. 3 is a front view of the front panel as viewed from behind. 4 to 7 are diagrams showing the medal shoots, respectively, FIG. 4 is a perspective view seen from the front side, FIG. 5 is a perspective view seen from the back side, FIG. 6 is a front view, and FIG. It is an AA line cross section. 8 to 10 are views showing plate members constituting the medal chute, in which FIG. 8 is a perspective view seen obliquely from the rear, FIG. 9 is a front view, and FIG. 10 is a right side view. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the hopper unit with the hopper tank removed.

  The medal chute 51 includes a cover member 511 made of, for example, a synthetic resin and a plate member 512 made of, for example, a metal. The cover member 511 includes an upper half 513 extending from the upper end located immediately below the medal selector 47 to the upper position of the payout port 39 obliquely downward toward the center, and vertically downward from the lower end of the upper half 513. The lower half part 514 extends, and the front side is opened, and the horizontal section is formed in a substantially U shape.

  The plate member 512 is formed by bending a single metal plate. That is, the plate member 512 has an inclined portion 515 whose upper end is bent obliquely toward the front panel 5 and a portion excluding the left and right ends of the lower end protrudes backward in a vertical cross-section and is bent. A bent portion 516 and a protruding portion 517 that is bent to protrude rearward slightly to the left of the central portion in the vertical direction. The plate member 512 is fixed to the front surface side of the cover member 511 and covers a range excluding the lower end portion 518 of the cover member 511. That is, a substantially rectangular opening 520 is formed at the lower end 518 of the cover member 511 and the lower end 519 of the plate member 512, and this opening 520 faces the payout opening 39 formed in the front panel 5. A medal chute 51 is arranged. In addition, a substantially rectangular opening 521 communicating with the hopper unit 45 is transparently provided at an appropriate upper position of the lower half 514 of the cover member 511.

  Further, the hopper unit 45 includes a disk 454 through which insertion parts 452 (six in this embodiment) into which medals in the hopper tank 451 are inserted are inserted and rotatable around a rotation shaft 453, and an urging member (illustrated). And a medal kicker 455 urged by (omitted). Further, in the vicinity of the medal kicker 455, a medal discharge passage 458 is formed by the lead plate 456 and the guide wall 457, and this medal discharge passage 458 communicates with the opening 521 of the cover member 511. When the disk 454 rotates, for example, in the clockwise direction in FIG. 11, the medal 53 inserted into the insertion portion 452 pushes the medal kicker 455 against the urging force of the urging member to the guide pin (not shown). It is guided and gradually comes out from the insertion part 452. When the medal 53 is completely removed from the insertion portion 452, the medal kicker 455 is vigorously returned to the original position by the urging force of the urging member. The medal kicker 455 causes the medal 53 to pass through the medal discharge passage 55 toward the opening 521. Will be played.

  In the medal chute 51 configured as described above, in the upper half 513 of the cover member 511, the cover member 511 and the front panel 5 form a guide passage for guiding the medal falling from the medal selector 47. In the lower half 514 of the cover member 511, a guide passage 522 is formed by the cover member 511 and the plate member 512 to guide medals falling from the medal selector 47 and medals 53 ejected from the hopper unit 45. That is, the cover member 511 forms the rear side of the guide passage 522, and the plate member 512 forms the front side of the guide passage 522. Then, the medal falling from the medal selector 47 collides with the inclined portion 515 and the protruding portion 517 of the plate member 512 and is guided toward the opening 520. The medal 53 ejected from the hopper unit 45 collides with the bent portion 516 of the plate member 512 and the lower end portion 518 of the cover member 511 and is guided toward the opening 520.

  Here, the rearward protrusion amount L of the bent portion 516, that is, the protrusion amount L to the guide passage 522 is paid directly through the opening 520 without the medal 53 ejected from the hopper unit 45 contacting the medal chute 51. It is formed so as not to be discharged to the outlet 39. That is, the medal 53 ejected from the hopper unit 45 collides with at least one of the bent portion 516 of the plate member 512 and the lower half portion 514 of the cover member 511, and then is discharged to the payout port 39 through the opening 520. It becomes. Thus, in this embodiment, the cover member 511 and the plate member 512 constitute the “passage forming member” of the present invention. The opening 520 corresponds to the “lower opening” of the present invention, and the opening 521 corresponds to the “upper opening” of the present invention.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, since the bent portion 516 that protrudes backward and is bent is formed at the lower end portion 519 of the plate member 512, the medal 53 that is flipped out from the hopper unit 45 can be obtained. It does not bounce directly to the medal receiver 41 without contacting the periphery of the opening 520 and the payout opening 39. That is, the medal 53 ejected from the hopper unit 45 collides with the bent portion 516, or the ballistic medal 53 that does not collide with the bent portion 516 collides with the lower end 518 of the cover member 511 forming the opening 520. To do. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent a situation in which the medal 53 ejected from the hopper unit 45 bounces directly to the medal receiver 41 and jumps out of the medal receiver 41 with a simple configuration in which the bent portion 516 is formed. it can.

  Further, according to this embodiment, the bent portion 516 is not only bent like the inclined portion 515 but also bent in a vertical cross-sectional shape, so that the durability against the collision of the medal 53 is improved. can do. Further, since the guide passage 522 is formed by the cover member 511 and the metal plate member 512, the strength of the medal chute 51 can be secured by the metal plate member 512. Further, since the bent portion 516 is made of metal, the strength of the bent portion 516 against the collision of the medal 53 can be ensured.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications other than those described above can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the protruding amount L of the bent portion 516 into the guide passage 522 is constant in the left-right direction, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be formed differently in the left-right position. Good. For example, based on the trajectory characteristics of the medal 53 that is ejected from the hopper unit 45, the protrusion amount of the portion that is likely to jump out directly from the opening 520 (payout port 39) is increased, thereby preventing the medal 53 from jumping out from the medal receiver 41 more reliably. Can be done. Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the plate member 512 is made into metal, this invention is not limited to this. However, considering the strength of the medal chute 51 and the bent portion 516, metal is preferable.

It is a perspective view showing an appearance of a slot machine provided with an embodiment of a medal payout device for a gaming machine according to the present invention. It is a right side view showing the internal configuration of the main part of the slot machine. It is the front view which looked at the front panel from back. It is the perspective view which looked at the medal chute from the front side. It is the perspective view which looked at the medal chute from the back side. It is a front view of a medal chute. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 6. It is the perspective view which looked at the plate member from diagonally back. It is a front view of a plate member. It is a right view of a plate member. It is a perspective view of a hopper unit in the state where a hopper tank was removed.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Slot machine, 39 ... Discharge outlet, 41 ... Medal receptacle (receiving tray), 45 ... Hopper unit, 51 ... Medal chute, 511 ... Cover member (passage formation member), 512 ... Plate member (passage formation member), 516 ... Bending part, 518 ... lower end part of cover member, 519 ... lower end part of plate member, 520 ... opening (lower opening), 521 ... opening (upper opening)

Claims (3)

In a medal payout device for a gaming machine that pays medals to a tray through a payout opening formed on the front of the housing,
A hopper unit that plays medal one by one,
A cover member made of synthetic resin having a U-shaped cross-section with the front side opened, a metal plate member closing the region excluding the lower end portion on the front side of the cover member, an upper opening communicating with the hopper unit , A lower opening that communicates with the payout port, and a passage forming member that forms a medal guide passage that guides a medal that is flipped out of the hopper unit and enters through the upper opening to the lower opening,
The cover member forms a rear surface side of the guide passage, and is formed with the upper opening, an upper half extending obliquely downward from the upper end toward the upper opening, and the upper half It consists of a lower half extending vertically downward from the lower end toward the payout port, and the upper opening is formed in the upper part of the lower half,
The front side of the lower half of the cover member is closed by the plate member except for the lower end of the front side of the cover member;
The lower opening is formed by a lower end portion of the plate member and a lower end portion of the cover member so as to face the payout port at a part of the front side of the guide passage,
A game characterized in that a bent portion in which a lower end portion of the plate member forming the upper side of the lower opening of the passage forming member is bent in a vertical cross-section is formed to protrude into the guide passage. Machine medal dispensing device. The plate member includes an inclined portion whose upper end is bent obliquely to the front side,
The inclined portion is formed so as to guide the medal toward the lower opening when a medal that has passed through the upper half of the cover member collides. The medal payout device for the gaming machine described. In a medal payout device for a gaming machine that pays medals to a tray through a payout opening formed on the front of the housing ,
A hopper unit that plays medal one by one,
Forming a passage having an upper opening communicating with the hopper unit and a lower opening communicating with the payout port, and forming a medal guide passage for guiding medals ejected from the hopper unit and entering through the upper opening to the lower opening With members,
The upper opening is formed in a part of the passage forming member that forms the rear surface side of the guide passage,
The lower opening is formed on a part of the passage forming member forming the front side of the guide passage so as to face the payout opening,
On the upper side of the lower opening of the passage forming member, a bent portion that is bent in a vertical cross-section is formed so as to protrude from the guide passage so that the amount of protrusion to the guide passage differs in the left and right positions. medal payout device of Yu TECHNICAL machine characterized in that there.

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