JP4667658B2 - Medals sensor for slot - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a slot medal sensor that is attached later to a hopper outlet of a pachislot machine.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, in a pachislot machine, a forced payout switch that can be manually operated by a store clerk when the front door is opened is provided in the housing body.
This forced payout switch is a switch operated when forcibly discharging medals in the hopper (medal payer). When this forced payout switch is turned on, the medal discharge mechanism is activated during the ON period, Continue paying out medals. This payout passes through a chute provided inside the front door and is discharged from the medal discharge port of the front door to the medal tray.
[0003]
However, such a forced payout switch is likely to be a target of an illegal act to be operated from the outside for the purpose of illegally acquiring a large number of medals. For example, an illegal act such as inserting and operating an unauthorized member such as an elongated plastic plate from the medal outlet of the front door is likely to be performed.
[0004]
Therefore, as one of the solutions to this problem, a slot medal sensor that detects medals discharged from the hopper outlet is provided, and when a large amount of medals are discharged at an abnormal timing, plastic inserted from the outside It is conceivable that the forced payout switch is judged to be in an abnormal state by a board or the like, and that an alarm to that effect is issued.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when a slot medal sensor is to be retrofitted to the hopper outlet of the pachislot machine, the installation location is very restricted. For example, the size of the space near the hopper exit differs for each manufacturer and for each model. In addition, there is a model in which the space near the hopper outlet is very small. In such a model, the contact portion must be cut when the sensor is attached.
[0006]
Moreover, when it is set as the structure detected by a single beam, since a detection position changes for every model, it is still lacking in versatility. That is, as a result of one detection position, there is one position to be positioned, and selective attachment cannot be performed. Furthermore, there is a risk that a medal is erroneously detected because of weak disturbance light. Further, if dust or the like accumulates on the surface of the light receiving element, there is a disadvantage that the medal detection sensitivity itself is lowered.
[0007]
On the other hand, it is uneconomical to individually prepare slot medal sensors dedicated to these models because it is necessary to prepare several types of slot medal sensors. For this reason, there is a demand for providing a versatile slot medal sensor that can be commonly used for more models.
[0008]
Accordingly, the present invention is intended to solve the above-described problems and provide a versatile slot medal sensor that can be used in common for more types of pachislot machines.
[0009]
The present invention has been proposed in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, and what is described in claim 1 is a medal sensor for a slot which is retrofitted to a hopper outlet of a pachislot machine.
Using a U-shaped substrate with an empty space surrounding the hopper exit inside the arms, it penetrates in the opposite direction of the inner edge of the arms in the thickness direction of the arms and provided in pairs recesses for elements attached with, fit the light-emitting element to one of the recesses of the pair, the light beam from the light emitting element crowded fitted with a light receiving element on the other the recess passes through the hollow portions The light emitting element and the light receiving element are arranged face to face so as to be received by the light receiving element, and the medal passing through the empty portion is configured to detect the medal by blocking the light beam, and The thickness of the medal sensor is set within the diameter of the light emitting element and the light receiving element by fitting the light emitting element and the light receiving element having a diameter larger than that of the substrate into the recess. Characteristic To.
[0010]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the medal sensor for a slot according to the first aspect, three pairs of concave portions for element attachment are arranged in the extending direction of the arm,
Wherein as the light beam from the first light emitting element and the first light emitting element Nde write fitted with a light receiving element in the center of the recess of the recesses are received by the first light receiving element through said hollow portions first 1 light emitting element and 1st light receiving element are arranged facing each other,
The second light-emitting element and the light-receiving element are fitted in any of the remaining recesses, and the second light- receiving element is received by the second light-receiving element through the empty part. The light emitting element and the second light receiving element are arranged to face each other .
[0011]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the slot medal sensor according to the second aspect, the mounting positions of the first light emitting element, the light receiving element, the second light emitting element, and the light receiving element with respect to the arm are set to the light emitting element. The directions of the light beams emitted from the light beams are opposite to each other.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on the illustrated embodiments.
A pachislot machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a box-like housing body 3 (FIG. 2) whose front side on the player side is open and whose rear side is closed, and a hinge mechanism (not shown). A front door 2 (FIG. 3) whose side is pivotally attached to one side of the housing body 3 is provided, and the opening surface of the housing body 3 can be opened and closed by the front door 2.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 2, a shelf plate 4 is installed in the horizontal direction at a substantially vertical center in the housing body 3, and the empty part is divided vertically. In the upper space 5 above the shelf 4, the variable display unit 6, the game control device 7 and the like are installed, and the lower space 8 below the shelf 4 discharges medals. A hopper (medal dispenser) 9 and a power supply unit 10 are installed.
[0014]
The variable display unit 6 disposed in the upper empty space 5 includes a first reel 11 on the left side in the figure, a second reel 12 in the center on the left and right sides, a third reel 13 on the right side, and the reels 11 to 13. A reel driving unit (not shown) that individually controls rotation is configured. Each reel 11-13 is arrange | positioned so that a surrounding surface may become a vertical direction, and several variable display symbols are described on this surrounding surface. Therefore, when the reels 11 to 13 are rotated, the variable display symbol can be scrolled in the vertical direction, and when the rotation of the reels 11 to 13 is stopped, the scroll of the variable display symbol can be stopped.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 1, on the front surface of the pachislot machine 1, there are an operation unit 30 provided in the center of the front side in the height direction, a variable display window 31 provided above the operation unit 30, and a lower front portion. And a medal tray 32 provided on the screen.
[0016]
The variable display window 31 has a rectangular shape that is slightly longer in the vertical direction, and a transparent member (a glass plate, a resin plate, or the like) is attached to make the reels 11 to 13 of the variable display unit 6 visible to the player. .
[0017]
The operation unit 30 includes a start lever 33, a push button type first reel stop button 34 corresponding to the first reel 11, a push button type second reel stop button 35 corresponding to the second reel 12, and the third reel 13. Corresponding push button type third reel stop button 36, medal insertion unit 37 for inserting medals, 1 bet button 38 for setting a bet line by consuming "1" credits, and maximizing by consuming credits It consists of a MAX bet button 39 and the like for setting a bet line up to a number.
[0018]
The medal tray 32 is a storage receiving portion that stores medals discharged from the hopper 9, and is configured by a recess having an open upper surface. The medal tray 32 and the hopper outlet 16 (FIG. 2) communicate with each other through the chute 27 (FIG. 3) and the medal discharge port 40 when the front door 2 is closed.
[0019]
The hopper 9 is a kind of game medium payout device called a medal or game coin. The hopper 9 is provided at the bottom of the substantially funnel-shaped medal storage unit 14 and the medal storage unit 14 to receive the medal at the bottom. The discharge mechanism 15 is configured to discharge one sheet at a time. In this example, the discharge mechanism 15 is not shown in the drawing, but is a disk-shaped discharge plate in which a plurality of grooves into which a single medal can be fitted is formed in the circumferential direction, and a deceleration that rotationally drives the discharge plate. The machine-equipped motor is configured to discharge the medal fitted in the groove from the hopper outlet 16 by rotating the discharge plate. A typical medal is a metal disk having a diameter of 25 mm.
[0020]
Reference numeral 17 denotes a support frame for the medal storage portion 14 and the discharge mechanism 15 constituting the hopper 9. The disk-shaped discharge plate of the discharge mechanism 15 is supported obliquely by the support frame 17, and therefore the hopper outlet 16, which is a rectangular opening for the discharge mechanism 15 to discharge medals one by one, is also supported by the support frame 17. The front wall 17a is provided with an oblique opening.
[0021]
An overflow discharge port 18 is provided on the side surface of the medal storage unit 14, and medals discharged from the overflow discharge port 18 are collected on the side of the hopper 9 and immediately below the overflow discharge port 18. Collected in box 19.
[0022]
On the side of the hopper 9 opposite to the collection box 19, the power supply unit 10 is disposed. This power supply unit 10 supplies operation power to each part in the pachislot gaming machine 1 such as the above-described fluctuation display unit 6 and game control device 7. A forced payout switch 26 is provided on the upper front side of the power supply unit 10.
[0023]
The forced payout switch 26 is a switch that is operated when forcibly discharging medals from the hopper 9, and when the forced payout switch 26 is turned on, the discharge mechanism 15 operates during the ON period, and in an extreme case. The medals continue to be discharged until all medals in the medal storage unit 14 are exhausted. These medals are discharged one by one from the hopper outlet 16, passed through a chute 27 provided inside the front door 2 shown in FIG. 3, and a medal tray 32 from a medal outlet 40 on the front side of the front door 2 shown in FIG. 4. To be discharged.
[0024]
However, such a forced payout switch 26 is likely to be a target operated by inserting an unauthorized member such as a plastic plate through the medal outlet 40 for the purpose of illegally acquiring a large number of medals.
[0025]
Therefore, in order to enable monitoring of an abnormal state in which medals ejected as described above are ejected in a large amount at abnormal timing, medals ejected from the hopper outlet 16 are placed on the front wall 17a of the support frame 17. The photoelectric slot medal sensor 20 for detecting the sensor is attached at the time of or after installation at the game store at the request of the game store.
If the slot medal sensor 20 is turned on even when the normal signal is not output, this is an abnormal operation, that is, the forced payout switch 26 is illegally operated by a plastic plate inserted from the outside. It is determined that the alarm has occurred, and an alarm signal is transmitted to the management device.
The medal sensor 20 may be attached by known attachment means such as a double-sided tape or a screw.
[0026]
FIG. 4 shows an enlarged portion of the slot medal sensor 20. As shown in the figure, the substrate 21 has a U-shaped substrate 21 in which an empty space that surrounds the hopper outlet 16 is formed inside the arms 21a and 21b, and is extended in parallel from the base portion. At three locations in the extending direction of both arms 21a and 21b, there are recesses 22 for attaching elements penetrating in the thickness direction of the arms 21a and 21b at the mutually opposing portions of the inner edges of both arms 21a and 21b. Is provided. Then, the first light emitting element 23a and the first light receiving element 23b are fitted in the pair of concave portions 22 at the center, and the second light emitting element 24a and the second light emitting element 24b are inserted into any one of the remaining pair of concave portions 22. The light receiving element 24b is fitted.
[0027]
Light beams from the light emitting elements 23a and 24a are received by the light receiving elements 23b and 24b as indicated by arrows A and B. In this light receiving state, the slot medal sensor 20 is in an OFF state. When this light beam is shielded by a passing medal, the slot medal sensor 20 is turned on to detect a medal.
[0028]
The diameters of the light emitting elements 23 a and 24 a and the light receiving elements 23 b and 24 b are generally slightly larger than the thickness of the substrate 21. The element is fitted in the recess 22 of the substrate 21. Therefore, the light emitting elements 23a and 24a and the light receiving elements 23b and 24b are accommodated in the recess 22 in a state where the light emitting elements 23a and 24b are slightly expanded on both surfaces of the substrate.
[0029]
In other words, according to the above configuration in which the light emitting elements 23 a and 24 a and the light receiving elements 23 b and 24 b are fitted in the recess 22, when compared with a configuration in which the elements are conventionally mounted on the surface of the substrate 21, the latter The thickness of the substrate 21 plus the thickness of the substrate 21 is required. As a result, the thickness becomes bulky, which may make attachment difficult. No. 20 can be accommodated in a desired space only by requiring a thick portion of the element, for example, 3 mmφ. For this reason, the slot medal sensor 20 of the present invention can be set even in a slight gap between the hopper outlet and the door (front door), and is very versatile.
[0030]
Further, since the substrate 21 is formed in a U shape, the position can be adjusted in a direction in which the position of the open end of the U shape is shifted. That is, even if the slot medal sensor 20 is shifted in the arrow F direction (arm extending direction) in which the position of the U-shaped open end approaches the hopper outlet 16, the U-shaped open end portion remains at the hopper outlet. The hopper outlet 16 is not narrowed as in the case of handling a rectangular substrate at this time.
[0031]
Further, the shape and dimensions of the hopper outlet 16 are substantially the same regardless of manufacturer or model. Therefore, if the sensor has a U-shaped substrate 21 in which an empty space of a size surrounding the hopper outlet 16 of a general size is formed, it is suitable for various pachislot machines having different structures around the hopper outlet 16. Can be easily attached and used later.
In this embodiment, the empty space of the substrate 21 is set to 45 mm in the direction along the arms 21a and 21b and 25 mm in the direction perpendicular to the arms 21a and 21b. It can be adapted to.
[0032]
Further, of the three pairs of recesses provided at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of the arms 21a and 21b (10 mm interval in the present embodiment), the first pair of light emitting and receiving elements is disposed in the central recess 22. Since 23a and 23b are attached and the second light emitting / receiving element pair 24a and 24b are attached to any one of the remaining pairs of recesses 22, the degree of freedom of the attachment position is great and selective attachment is possible. That is, the slot medal sensor 20 can be attached regardless of which of the first light emitting / receiving element pair 23a, 23b and the second light emitting / receiving element pair 24a, 24b is used as the reference of the light detection position. That is, even if the detection position differs for each model, which one of the first light emitting / receiving element pair 23a, 23b and the second light emitting / receiving element pair 24a, 24b is used in accordance with the detection position, and further, the second light emitting / receiving element It is possible to select (roughly adjust) the position of the recess 22 where the pair 24a, 24b is attached, and to adjust the position of the selected light detection position in the direction of arrow F (fine adjustment). Therefore, the slot medal sensor 20 is rich in versatility.
[0033]
Further, since it is a twin beam, even if the slot medal sensor 20 is attached to the hopper outlet 16, the light from the light emitting elements 23a and 24a can be irradiated to the medal passage, and the medal can be detected reliably. Moreover, since it is a twin beam, the reliability with respect to disturbance light, dust, etc. improves compared with the case where it detects with a single beam. In addition, when one of the twin beams becomes inoperable, it is possible to output a signal requesting maintenance.
[0034]
Further, the first light-emitting element 23a and the light-receiving element 23b and the second light-emitting element 24a and the light-receiving element 24b are directed to the arms 21a and 21b of the substrate 21 with the directions of light beams emitted from the light-emitting elements (arrows A and B). ) Are attached so that they are opposite to each other. That is, the first light emitting element 23 a belongs to the arm 21 a of the substrate 21, while the second light emitting element 24 a belongs to the arm 21 b of the substrate 21. Similarly, the first light receiving element 23 b belongs to the arm 21 b of the substrate 21, while the second light receiving element 24 b belongs to the arm 21 a of the substrate 21.
[0035]
As a result, the light beam (arrow A) from the first light-emitting element 23a reaches only the light-receiving element 23b, and the light beam (arrow B) from the second light-emitting element 24a reaches only the light-receiving element 24b. The light receiving element 23b and the second light receiving element 24b do not pick up the other light. In addition, even if one element set cannot be detected due to dust or the like, the other element set can be detected, so that certainty can be improved.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the slot medal sensor to be retrofitted to the hopper outlet of the pachislot machine, a hollow portion having a size surrounding the hopper outlet is formed inside the arms. Using the substrate, a pair of element mounting recesses penetrating in the thickness direction of the arms is provided in pairs on the inner edges of both arms, and the light emitting element is fitted into one of the pair of recesses, the light beam from the light emitting element passes through the hollow portions are arranged across from each other and the light emitting element so as to be received by the light receiving element and a light receiving element crowded fitted with a light receiving element on the other the recess, the air The medal passing through the part is configured to detect the medal by blocking the light beam, and the light emitting element and the light receiving element having a diameter larger than the thickness of the substrate are fitted into the recess. The so thickness of the medal sensor has to fit within the size of the diameter of the light emitting element and a light receiving element, compared to the thickness of the conventional slot medal sensor plus the thickness of the substrate to the diameter of the element by the The thickness can be made thin and versatility can be enhanced. That is, the light emitting element and the light receiving element because it is fitted into the recess of the substrate, thin simply compared to thickness plus the thickness of the substrate to the diameter of the element, accommodated in thickness in the magnitude of the diameter of the element it is Ru can. Therefore, it is possible to set even between gap between the hopper outlet and the front door.
[0037]
In addition, since the substrate is U-shaped, the position of the U-shaped open end can be adjusted in a direction that deviates. Specifically, even if the slot-shaped medal sensor is shifted so that the position of the U-shaped open end approaches the hopper outlet, the U-shaped open end only comes to the opening position of the hopper outlet and overlaps. Therefore, the hopper outlet is not narrowed as in the case of handling a rectangular substrate.
[0038]
According to the invention of claim 2, the recess for the element attachment provided side by side extending three pairs in the direction of the arm, wherein the Nde write fitted with a first light emitting element and the light receiving element at the center of the recess of the recesses The first light-emitting element and the first light-receiving element are arranged face-to-face so that the light beam from one light-emitting element passes through the empty part and is received by the first light-receiving element, and in any remaining recess The second light emitting element and the light receiving element are fitted , and the second light emitting element and the second light receiving element are received by the second light receiving element so that the light beam from the second light emitting element passes through the void and is received by the second light receiving element. placed facing each other and a second light receiving element, since the detection by the first light emitting and receiving element pair and twin beam using the second light emitting and receiving element pair, Fit the even reference any beam position be able to. Thus, even the detection position is different for each model, can be fitted position adjusted to accordingly, it is possible to enhance the versatility. In particular, since the first light emitting / receiving element pair is always attached to the central recess, and the second light emitting / receiving element pair is attached to any one of the remaining recesses, the mounting position is highly flexible .
Further than twin beam, compared with the case of detecting by Shi Ngurubimu, reliability is improved with respect to disturbance light and dust.
[0039]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the slot medal sensor according to the second aspect, the mounting positions of the first light-emitting element, the light-receiving element, the second light-emitting element, and the light-receiving element with respect to the arm are set to the light-emitting element. Since the directions of the light beams emitted from the first and second light emitting / receiving element pairs are opposite to each other, the other light is not picked up. In addition, even if one element set cannot be detected due to dust or the like, the other element set can be detected, so that certainty can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the front of a pachislot machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view showing a housing body of a pachislot machine equipped with a slot medal sensor according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a view showing the back of the front door of the pachislot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a view showing a state where a slot medal sensor of the present invention is attached.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pachislot machine 2 Front door 3 Housing | casing main-body part 4 Shelf board 5 Upper empty part 6 Fluctuation display unit 7 Game control apparatus 8 Lower empty part 9 Hopper (medal payer)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Power supply unit 11 1st reel 12 2nd reel 13 3rd reel 14 Medal storage part 15 Discharge mechanism 16 Hopper exit 17 Support frame 17a Front wall 18 Overflow outlet 19 Collection box 20 Slot medal sensor 21 Substrate 21a, 21b Arm 22 Recess 23a 1st light emitting element 23b 1st light receiving element 24a 2nd light emitting element 24b 2nd light receiving element 26 Forcible payout switch 27 Chute 30 Operation part 31 Variable display window 32 Medal tray 33 Start lever 34 1st reel stop button 35 Second reel stop button 36 Third reel stop button 37 Medal insertion part 38 1 bet button 39 MAX bet button 40 Medal discharge port

Claims (3)

In a medal sensor for a slot that is attached later to the hopper exit of a pachislot machine,
Using a U-shaped substrate with an empty space surrounding the hopper exit inside the arms, it penetrates in the opposite direction of the inner edge of the arms in the thickness direction of the arms and provided in pairs recesses for elements attached with, fit the light-emitting element to one of the recesses of the pair, the light beam from the light emitting element crowded fitted with a light receiving element on the other the recess passes through the hollow portions The light emitting element and the light receiving element are arranged to face each other so as to be received by the light receiving element, and the medal passing through the empty portion is configured to detect the medal by blocking the light beam, and The thickness of the medal sensor is set within the diameter of the light emitting element and the light receiving element by fitting the light emitting element and the light receiving element having a diameter larger than that of the substrate into the recess. Characteristic Slot medal sensor. Three pairs of recesses for attaching elements are arranged in the extending direction of the arm,
As the light beam from the first light emitting element and Nde write fitted with a light receiving element and the first light-emitting element in the center of the recess of the recesses are received by the first light receiving device through the empty portion The first light emitting element and the first light receiving element are arranged face to face,
The second light-emitting element and the light-receiving element are fitted into any of the remaining recesses, and the light beam from the second light-emitting element passes through the empty part and is received by the second light-receiving element. 2. The slot medal sensor according to claim 1, wherein the second light emitting element and the second light receiving element are arranged to face each other .   3. The slot medal sensor according to claim 2, wherein attachment positions of the first light emitting element, the light receiving element, and the second light emitting element and the light receiving element with respect to the arm are set so that directions of light beams emitted from the light emitting elements are mutually different. A medal sensor for a slot characterized by being reversed.

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