JP4812424B2 - Game media lending device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a game medium lending apparatus that is installed in, for example, a game arcade where slot machines (hereinafter also referred to as “game machines”) are installed, and can be disposed between the game machines.

  In general, in a game hall such as a pachinko hall, for the convenience of the player, in order to lend gaming media between adjacent gaming machines in an area where a large number of gaming machines are installed (also referred to as “islands”) A vertically long game medium lending device is installed. This game medium lending device is attached to a frame that is fixedly installed between each game machine, and by inserting bills, coins, prepaid cards, etc. through corresponding insertion ports, game media can be delivered to the player. It is supposed to be lent out.

  Recently, for the convenience of the player, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a game medium such as a medal or a coin paid out from a game medium lending device (hereinafter referred to as a medal) is used as a nozzle. It is known that a guide is directly guided to a tray of a gaming machine through a guide path (hereinafter referred to as a nozzle chute). According to such a game medium lending apparatus, the player can conveniently pay out medals directly to the tray simply by inserting a bill into the game medium lending apparatus. is there.

  By the way, since the game medium lending device usually pays out a large number of medals at a time, there is a possibility that medals are clogged inside the nozzle chute. When such a medal clogging occurs, a load is applied to the medal payout device installed inside the game medium lending device, which is not preferable. In addition, when the above-described medal clogging occurs, unless the driving of the medal payout device is stopped immediately, a large number of medals are clogged in the nozzle chute, and the removal work is troublesome.

In order to solve such problems, Patent Document 2 includes a light emitting unit that irradiates light in a direction orthogonal to the medal path on the tip side wall of the nozzle chute and a light receiving unit that receives light from the light emitting unit. There is disclosed a game medium lending device that disposes a medal sensor and stops driving a medal payout device when a medal jam is detected.
JP2003-10524 JP 2003-236223 A

  However, the gaming medium lending device disclosed in Patent Document 2 causes the paid-out medal to drop into the medal groove by its weight after abutting against the inclined portion formed at the base end portion of the nozzle chute. In this configuration, the nozzle chute is rolled as it is. For this reason, the medal paid out from the medal payout device is reduced in momentum due to the inclined portion, and therefore, the medal clogging easily occurs in the nozzle chute. In addition, medals after contact with the inclined portion overlap each other, and a plurality of medals may pass through the nozzle chute in succession, so that there is a possibility that the medals are erroneously detected.

  According to the nozzle chute of the game medium lending device disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, since the medal is configured to slide down in a horizontal state along the sliding surface, it is disclosed in Patent Document 2. It is considered that medals are less likely to be clogged than the game medium lending device. However, due to friction between the sliding surface of the nozzle chute and the surface of the medal or adhesion of foreign matter, the medal may not flow smoothly when used over a long period of time. May be easier. Further, since the game medium lending device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is not provided with a medal detection sensor, the drive of the medal payout device cannot be controlled to stop when such a medal clogging occurs. .

  The present invention has been made by paying attention to the above-described circumstances, and it is difficult to cause clogging in the nozzle chute when a game medium such as a medal is paid out, and it is possible to detect such clogging. An object of the present invention is to provide a game medium lending device including

In order to solve the above-described problem, the gaming medium lending device described in claim 1 is installed in a gaming machine having a tray for storing gaming media and is paid out from a gaming medium dispensing device incorporated therein. A gaming medium lending device comprising a nozzle chute for guiding a gaming medium toward the tray, wherein the nozzle chute is set to a width in which a plurality of the gaming media cannot pass in parallel, and the gaming medium dispensing device A sliding guide portion that slides and guides the game medium paid out from the horizontal state, a drop guide portion that drops the game medium that slides down from the slide guide portion, and a game medium that falls from the drop guide portion A rolling guide part that rolls and guides in an upright state, the sliding guide part and the drop guide part are pluggable, and have a telescopic mechanism for adjusting the insertion position of both, and the sliding guide part Movement guide , Together are formed two rows across the region to migrate to fall guide portion along the length, the width of the two rows, even if the game medium slides which position of the sliding guide portion, game Ribs set to be in contact with the surface of the medium are provided, and the ribs are formed of a conductive metal, and one of the ribs is grounded, and the other rib is connected to a detection circuit so that a horizontal state is obtained. It functions as a detection sensor that short-circuits when a sliding game medium comes into contact, and stops the drive of the game medium payout device based on the detection circuit detecting a change in voltage value due to the short-circuit for a predetermined time or more. Control means is provided.

  According to the gaming medium lending device having the above-described configuration, gaming media such as medals paid out from the gaming medium dispensing device are paid out to a tray installed in the gaming machine via the nozzle chute. In this case, since the game medium slides down in a horizontal state while making contact with the rib having a small contact area without making surface contact with the sliding guide portion, the frictional resistance is reduced, and the game medium is dispensed from the game medium dispensing device. The momentum of the game media that has been paid out does not decrease. Therefore, it is possible to make it difficult for the game medium to be clogged in the nozzle chute. Further, by providing the rib with a small contact area, adhesion of foreign matters and the like is prevented as much as possible, and the game medium can be smoothly slid over a long period of time. Further, the rib is provided with a detection sensor for detecting that the game medium is jammed, and when the game medium is jammed, the drive of the game medium payout device is controlled to stop by the control means. It is possible to easily remove the clogging and to reduce the load acting on the game medium dispensing device.

Further, in the above configuration, since the rib is formed of a conductive metal material, the contact resistance is reduced, the game medium flows smoothly over a long period of time, and the possibility of clogging is reduced. The configuration makes it possible to detect clogged medals.

Furthermore, in the above-described configuration, the sliding guide portion is set to a width that can detect one game medium, so that the width of the sliding guide portion can be reduced without making it unnecessarily wide. It becomes possible to do. Further, since the rib is configured to be surely in contact with the passing game medium to detect a short circuit, the game medium can be detected accurately and accurately.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a gaming medium lending apparatus that makes it difficult for clogging to occur in a nozzle chute when paying out gaming media such as medals, and that can immediately detect such clogging. It becomes like this.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a game medium lending device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a game medium lending device according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a game medium paying device installed in the game medium lending device.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming medium lending device 1 includes a housing 1a formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the housing 1a is installed adjacent to a slot machine 100 that is a gaming machine. In the figure, only the game medium lending device installed adjacent to one slot machine 100 is shown. However, in an island facility where a number of slot machines are installed adjacent to each other, the frame relationship between the slot machines is shown. The game medium is paid out from the game medium lending apparatus 1 that is mounted on a stop (not shown) and is installed on the right side when viewed from the front.

  On the front surface (exposed surface) 1b of the housing 1a, there are formed insertion slots 3a and 3b for inserting bills and valuable media having a monetary value (such as prepaid cards). By inserting the card into the corresponding slot, a predetermined number of game media (hereinafter referred to as medals) corresponding to the monetary value are paid out. In addition to the insertion slot, for example, a numeric keypad operation unit 4 for selecting the frequency of use of the valuable medium, a display unit 5 indicating the remaining degree of the valuable medium, and the like may be provided on the front surface. Moreover, you may be comprised so that a coin can be handled besides the above-mentioned banknote and valuable media.

  A game medium payout device (hereinafter referred to as a medal payout device) 200 for actually paying out medals is installed in the housing 1a. This medal payout device 200 has a function of continuously paying out bills inserted by the player into the slot 3a, 3b, or medals corresponding to the monetary value of the valuable medium.

  Specifically, the medal payout device 200 is configured, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, and a hopper 201 in which a large number of medals are collected and a known payout unit for paying out medals accumulated in the hopper one by one. 202. In the hopper 201, a medal is inserted by inserting a key into the lock mechanism 6 provided on the front surface 1b of the housing 1a to open and close the front surface 1b, or through a medal transport mechanism installed inside the island facility. Supplied. It should be noted that the medals accumulated in the hopper 201 are placed in a horizontal state or a substantially horizontal state from the discharge port 204 by a known medal discharge mechanism provided in the payout unit 202, and a predetermined number of coins are continuously paid out. The

  The slot machine 100 includes a housing 102 in which a variable display device (for example, a reel unit having three rotating reels) is incorporated, and a front door 103 supported on the front side of the housing 102 so as to be opened and closed. Yes. The front door 103 is provided with a game area 105 so that the reels 106L, 106C, and 106R of the reel unit can be visually recognized through the vertically long rectangular display windows 107L, 107C, and 107R. .

  Further, the front door 103 is provided with a pedestal portion 110, and various operation portions (BET button 111, start lever 112, stop buttons 113a to 113c, and medal insertion slot 114) that are operated when playing a game in this portion. , C / P button 115 and the like. The front door 103 is provided with a display area 120 adjacent to the game area 105 and having various display units displayed during the game.

  Further, below the front door 103, a tray 130 for storing medals acquired in the game and medals paid out from the game medium lending device 1 is disposed. In this case, the medals obtained in the game are paid out directly from the medal discharge port 121 provided below the front door 103, and the medals lent out from the game medium lending device 1 are passed through the nozzle chute 10 described in detail below. Is paid out. One end of this nozzle chute 10 is held by a holding part 7 formed in the housing 1a of the game medium lending device 1 so as to be rotatable along the horizontal direction, and the other end (discharge port) is positioned on the tray 130. It is done.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the nozzle chute 10 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 to 6. In these drawings, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state where the nozzle chute is rotated, FIG. 4 is a front view of the nozzle chute, FIG. 5 is a side view of the nozzle chute, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

  The nozzle chute 10 is formed of, for example, a plastic material such as acrylic resin, and includes a chute body 11 through which medals flow. The chute body 11 has three areas when the state of flowing medals is taken into consideration. Specifically, these areas include a sliding guide portion 11A that guides the medals discharged from the medal payout device 200 so as to slide downward in the forward direction, and medals that slide down by the sliding guide portion 11A. A drop guide unit 11B to be dropped, and a rolling guide unit 11C to raise a medal that falls by the drop guide unit 11B and to roll and guide it toward the tray 130.

  11 A of said sliding guide parts are comprised as a cylinder of a cross-sectional substantially rectangular shape, The base end part is the rectangular shape formed in the front surface of the holding part 7 formed in the housing | casing 1a of the game media rental apparatus 1. FIG. The locking portion 11g formed in the base end portion is inserted into the opening 7a and locked at a predetermined position, and the bottom surface of the base end portion is pivotally supported by the support shaft 8, so that the arrow in FIG. As shown, it is held so as to be pivotable in the left-right direction. In this case, when the base end portion is supported in the holding portion 7, the rectangular opening 11 a formed in the base end portion is positioned at the discharge port 204 of the medal payout device 200 and, as described above, the discharge port 204. The medal to be paid out horizontally is guided into the chute body 11.

  Further, the sliding guide portion 11A is configured to extend obliquely downward on the front side when inserted into the holding portion 7, and allows the medals paid out from the medal payout device 200 to be moved downward in the forward direction. There is provided a sliding surface 11b that slides and guides toward it. That is, the medals paid out from the medal payout device 200 do not decrease the momentum at the time of payout, and slide down in the state as it is (the horizontal state in contact with the sliding surface 11b).

  In this case, the width W of the sliding guide portion 11A (sliding surface 11b) may be set larger than the diameter of the medal so that the medals to be paid out slide down. Therefore, the upper limit is preferably set smaller than the width of two medals. Further, the forward protrusion amount in the sliding guide portion 11A may be set in accordance with the position of the tray 130 provided in the slot machine, but the length can be adjusted in the axial direction by an extension mechanism as will be described later. It is preferable to configure as described above.

  A plurality of ribs 30a and 30b having a predetermined length are formed along the length direction on the surface of the sliding surface 11b. Two ribs of the present embodiment are formed over a region that moves to the drop guide portion 11B in a relatively downstream region of the sliding surface 11b. The two ribs 30a and 30b have such a width w that the ribs 30a and 30b can always come into contact with the surface of the medal no matter where the medal slides on the sliding surface 11b. And are formed at positions. For this reason, the ribs may be disposed slightly deviated from the center of the sliding surface.

  By forming such ribs 30a and 30b, the surface of the sliding medal comes into point contact with the rib, thereby reducing the frictional resistance acting on the medal. . Accordingly, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the momentum of the payout from the medal payout device 200, to realize a lighter payout and to prevent a foreign matter or the like from adhering, thereby suppressing an increase in frictional resistance, and for a long time. In addition, the use can be continued without causing clogging or the like.

  In addition, about the shape of each rib 30a, 30b, it is preferable to form a cross section in a curved shape so that a contact area may become smaller. In other words, by adopting such a curved shape, even if the medal slides over a long period of time, it becomes a configuration in which foreign matter or the like does not easily adhere to the top P of the curved part, and a stable sliding action can be obtained over a long period of time. .

  The ribs 30a and 30b described above are configured as medal sensors that can detect that a medal has passed. Specifically, each of the ribs 30a and 30b is made of a conductive metal, and is embedded in the sliding surface 11b by forming a concave groove extending in the longitudinal direction. In this case, each of the ribs 30a and 30b is connected to a detection circuit 50 as shown in FIG. 7A, for example, and the voltage value of the output section T is set with a predetermined voltage Vcc applied to one rib. By detecting it, it is possible to detect the passage of medals.

  That is, when one of the ribs 30a and 30b is grounded and the detection circuit 50 is connected to the other rib 30a, when a medal slides on the ribs 30a and 30b, Since the circuit is temporarily short-circuited, the output unit T detects a voltage value lower than Vcc every time a medal that is continuously discharged passes. In this case, by setting a predetermined threshold for the detection voltage obtained at the output unit T, an L / H signal as shown in FIG. 7B can be obtained each time a medal passes.

  If a clogged medal occurs in a state where such an L / H signal is obtained, the medal comes into contact with the ribs 30a and 30b, and therefore continues from the output portion T of the detection circuit 50. Thus, the L signal is detected. Therefore, when the detected L signal is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, it can be detected that the medal is jammed.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the configuration of the control circuit board 70 having a function as a control means for controlling the operation of the game medium lending apparatus 1 and stopping the driving of the medal payout apparatus 200 when a medal clogging occurs. It is a block diagram.

  The control circuit board 70 counts the detection signals obtained from the CPU 71 that controls the operation of the entire apparatus, the above-described detection circuit 50, the payout device drive circuit 72 that drives the medal payout device, the payout completion signal circuit 73, and the detection circuit 50. A timer 75 or the like is mounted.

  The CPU 71 of the control circuit board 70 is designated when a player inserts a banknote or a valuable medium (such as a prepaid card), and it is determined to be authentic by the banknote identification unit 80 and the valuable medium identification unit 85. A signal relating to the predetermined payout number is input. The CPU 71 outputs a payout command signal to the payout device drive circuit 72, thereby rotating the drive motor of the medal payout device 200. The medal payout is detected by a medal detection unit 210S provided in the medal payout device 200, and the payout completion signal circuit 73 outputs a medal detection signal to the CPU 71 every time a medal is detected by the medal detection unit 210S. The CPU 71 outputs a payout end signal to the payout device drive circuit 72 and stops driving the medal payout device 200 when the specified predetermined payout number is reached.

  While this payout is being executed, medals continuously paid out from the medal payout device 200 are guided to the tray via the nozzle chute 10 as shown in FIGS. At this time, the medal M is paid out in a horizontal state with a predetermined momentum by a medal discharge mechanism provided in the payout unit 202 of the medal payout device 200, and the slide guide portion of the chute main body 11 is directly passed through the opening 11a. 11A will guide you.

  In the sliding guide portion 11A, the medal M does not decrease the momentum at the time of paying out, and slides downward in the state of being in contact with the ribs 30a and 30b as it is, and falls at the lower end thereof. It falls in a vertical state (substantially vertical state) toward the guide portion 11B.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the medal M that has fallen from the drop guide portion 11B comes into contact with the rolling surface 11c of the rolling guide portion 11C at the lower end portion thereof, and stands toward this tray while standing at this portion. Is guided to roll. As shown in FIG. 11, the medal M that finally rolls at the rolling guide portion 11C is subjected to a posture change obliquely by the rolling restraining means 20 provided at the tip region thereof, and is placed on the tray 130. It is discharged without rolling.

  As described above, since the ribs 30a and 30b with the medal sensor are provided on the sliding guide portion 11A, the contact resistance with the medal is reduced, and the flow of the medal in the medal passage becomes smooth and the medal clogging occurs. Less likely. Further, since the medal in the horizontal state discharged from the discharge port 204 is inserted into the nozzle chute 10 in the horizontal state (without changing the posture), the possibility of clogging of medals is further reduced.

  If a clogged medal occurs during the above-described medal payout operation, the medal cannot slide down at the sliding guide portion 11A and comes into contact with the ribs 30a and 30b. The L signal is detected from the output unit T over a predetermined time. At this time, the CPU 71 outputs a payout stop command signal to the payout device drive circuit 72 to stop the drive motor of the medal payout device 200 and stores the number of unpaid medals. Then, after the clogging of medals is resolved by the medal removal operation, the CPU 71 outputs a payout command signal to the payout device drive circuit 72 again in order to pay out unpaid medals.

  In the configuration described above, the medal clogging detection accuracy can be improved by using a rib provided on the sliding surface instead of a portion where the medal stands up and rolls instead of detecting the medal passage. it can. In other words, in the former configuration, when rolling with a plurality of medals overlapped, there is a possibility that the medals exist in the guide path over a predetermined time. In the configuration of the embodiment (the latter configuration), the medal is configured to slide down on the rib at a high speed, so that the possibility of such erroneous detection is reduced.

  In addition, the width of the medal passage (the width of the sliding surface 11b) is set such that a plurality of medals cannot pass side by side, and the ribs 30a and 30b with the medal detection sensor can detect one medal, and By setting the position, one medal can be reliably detected, and the medal can be detected accurately and accurately. In addition, since the width of the medal passage is not unnecessarily wide, the nozzle chute can be downsized structurally.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified as appropriate. For example, although the above-described nozzle chute is configured in a cylindrical shape, an open portion or an opening hole may be partially formed. That is, by forming such an opening or opening, it becomes possible to easily remove a medal when it is jammed. In addition, the nozzle chute main body 11 may be configured such that the above-described sliding guide portion 11A, drop guide portion 11B, and rolling guide portion 11C are integrally formed of resin or the like, and a plurality of members are divided and combined. May be. For example, as described above, with respect to the rolling guide portion 11C, the medal discharge guide 11e having the rolling restraining means 20 formed at the tip portion is formed as a separate body and can be rotated with respect to the rolling guide portion 11C. You may comprise so that it may become. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the intermediate portion of the sliding guide portion 11A is divided so as to be both inserted, and an expansion / contraction mechanism 25 capable of adjusting the insertion position is provided between them. Thus, the protruding length of the sliding guide portion 11A can be adjusted according to the configuration of the slot machine. In this case, with respect to the expansion / contraction mechanism 25, for example, a plurality of locking portions are formed such that a protrusion 25a is formed on one of the divided members and the protrusion 25a can be locked to the other member by adjusting the position. It is possible to configure by forming the unevenness 25c formed in the long hole 25b.

  Further, the nozzle chute 10 is not limited to the shape of the above-described embodiment. For example, the entire guide route from the medal payout device to the tray may be constituted by a sliding guide surface.

  Further, as shown in the drawing, the position where the above-described medal detection rib is provided may extend not only to the sliding guide portion 11A but also to the drop guide portion 11B. Moreover, it is preferable to install the position where the rib for detecting the medal is provided at a position close to the discharge portion with respect to the tray 130. That is, medal clogging occurs most frequently in the discharge unit area, so that the medal clogging can be resolved at an early stage by providing it in an area close to the discharge unit.

  Further, at least two ribs may be formed so that the medals can slide stably, and the ribs may be configured as detection sensors that detect the passage of medals over three or more ribs. .

The figure which shows the example of 1 structure of the game media rental apparatus which concerns on this invention. The figure which shows the example of 1 structure of the game medium payout apparatus installed in a game medium rental apparatus. The top view which shows the state which rotated the nozzle chute. The front view of a nozzle chute. The side view of a nozzle chute. Sectional drawing along the AA line of FIG. (A) is a figure which shows an example of the detection circuit which detects the passage state of a medal, (b) is a figure which shows the signal obtained by passage of a medal. The block diagram which shows the structural example of a control circuit board, if operation | movement of a game media rental apparatus is controlled. It is a figure explaining the behavior of a medal and is a side view of a nozzle chute. It is a figure explaining the behavior of a medal and a front view of a nozzle chute. It is a figure explaining the behavior of a medal, and a figure showing a discharge part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game medium rental apparatus 10 Nozzle chute 11 Nozzle chute main body 11A Sliding guide part 11B Falling guide part 11C Rolling guide part 30a, 30b Rib 50 Detection circuit 70 Control circuit board (control means)
100 slot machine (game machine)
130 Receptacle 200 Medal Dispensing Device (Game Medium Dispensing Device)

Claims (1)

A gaming medium lending device provided with a nozzle chute that is installed in a gaming machine having a tray for storing gaming media and guides the gaming media to be paid out from a gaming medium dispensing device incorporated therein toward the tray. ,
The nozzle chute has a width that allows a plurality of the game media to pass in parallel, a slide guide portion that slides and guides the game media paid out from the game media payout device in a horizontal state, and the slide A drop guide part for dropping the game medium sliding down from the guide part, and a rolling guide part for rolling and guiding the game medium falling from the drop guide part to an upright state,
The sliding guide part and the drop guide part are plug-in types, and have an expansion / contraction mechanism that adjusts the insertion position of both,
The sliding guide portion is formed in two rows over a region that transitions to the drop guide portion along the length direction, and the width of the two rows means which position of the sliding guide portion the gaming medium slides. Even if it moves, a rib set to come into contact with the surface of the game medium is provided,
The rib is formed of a conductive metal, and functions as a detection sensor that short-circuits when a game medium that slides in a horizontal state contacts by grounding one rib and connecting the other rib to a detection circuit. And
A game medium lending device comprising: a control means for controlling to stop driving the game medium dispensing device based on the detection circuit detecting a change in voltage value due to a short circuit for a predetermined time or more .

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